Проект

Учебно-исследовательская работа

по английскому языку

«The language of the youth»

Автор:

ученица 9б класса,

Максютенко Юлия Александровна

Руководитель:

Руденко Светлана Петровна,

 Учитель английского языка

_____________________________________подпись

Санкт-Петербург

2020

Introduction

This work concerns the contemporary English language of the youth, its peculiarities, slangs and acronyms.

Slang makes the greatest part of the spoken language but in spite of this fact most teachers and specialists in methodology ignore slang. Nowadays teenagers use slangs very often, therefore, understanding the theme of the conversation would be hardly possible if you don’t know the meaning of the word. In my work I’m going to learn about up-to-date slangs and how teenagers use them in their everyday life.

The theme of the investigation is considered to be vital because today people need to contact with native speakers more than ever and besides a formal language it is impossible to avoid an informal one.

The main goal of this work is to let students, who learn the English language, enrich their vocabulary by studying the mini-dictionary of slang and acronyms, given in this work.

According with everything mentioned above the following hypothesis is suggested: Knowledge of slang is a very important component in the development of linguistic competence, for it simplifies communication in real-life situations and comprehension of authentic movies and literary works.

To achieve the main goal, we introduce the following tasks:

1. To collect the information about peculiarities of the language of the teenagers;
2. To select words and collocations, which can be called ‘slang” and give them the interpretation;
3. To create the dictionary.

The object of the investigation is spoken English and the subject is slang.

Methods of research:

1. Method of analysis and synthesis.
2. Method of deduction and induction.
3. Method of summarizing and generalizing.

Stages of the work:

1. Exploring the issues to consider.
2. Collection of the information.
3. Making-up a mini-dictionary.

The paper contains the appendix displaying slang vocabulary, which includes the most popular slang words and expressions.

Contents

Introduction        2

1.        The main part        5

1.1.        The definition of the world “slang”        5

1.2.        Classification of the slang        6

1.3.        Creation of the slang        6

1.4.        Reasons to use slang        7

2.        Conclusion        8

3.        Appendix        9

Glossary of slang        9

Glossary of acronyms        10

4.        Bibliography:        11

1. The main part

It won’t be an exaggeration to say that English today is the language of the world. It’s the language of progressive science and technology, trade and cultural relations, commerce and business. Slang makes 1/3 part of the most widespread language on Earth. Modern slangs are essential part of the development of the English language. Any language isn't static and one of the most exciting aspects of the English language is that it's constantly evolving. As each generation comes of age, they add new and creative slang to the culture, so you're sure to hear new formed words regularly. Slang freshens and enhances the English language. Every minute of every day, new slang words are being coined. It keeps the language from getting stale.

1. The definition of the world “slang”

According to the American poet Carl Sandburg (1878-1967), slang is "language which takes off its coat, spits on its hands - and goes to work." The Concise Oxford Dictionary is more prosaic: "words, phrases, and uses that are regarded as very informal and are often restricted to special contexts or are peculiar to a specified profession, class, etc (racing slang; schoolboy slang)."

The definition of the world “slang”, as we understand it:

Slang – is a part of extremely informal language or specific words used by a particular group of people.

The term, given in the dictionary:

Slang - is an informal term that stands for or means something else than its literal meaning; is a shorter way to say a word or phrase.^[1]

2. Classification of the slang

According to I.V. Arnold and N.V. Krupnov^[2] slang is subdivided into general and special slang. General slang includes words that are not specific for any social or professional group. Special slang is peculiar for some group: teenager slang, university slang, military slang, criminal slang, etc. Second group is heterogeneous. Some authors, A.D. Schweizer^[3] for instance, consider cant, jargon and argot to belong here.. The main difference between them is the fact that the first has an expressive function, whereas the second is primarily concerned with secrecy.

3. Creation of the slang

Forms of slang are created by the same processes that affect ordinary speech. Expressions take form as metaphors, similes and other figures of speech. Words may acquire new meanings A narrow meaning may become generalized or vice-versa. There are seven chief forms of slang, each created by different processes.

• old words used in new ways;
•  shortened or lengthened words;
•  figures of speech;
•  acronyms;

Acronym - A word that is made up of the first letter of a phrase.^[4]

• coinages;
• clipping;

The process creating a new word by dropping one or more syllables from a longer word is called clipping.

• blends.

One on the reasons why new slang words are getting extremely widespread rather quick is that they are used in popular music and movies, they can be heard straight from the mouths of famous musicians and actors, they can be seen in viral videos, social media posts and other entertaining material on the Internet. Technology has a very unusual way of spreading trends in a language, specifically when the teen slang is concerned.

4. Reasons to use slang

There are excessively many reasons why people use slang words and expressions. H. Wentworth and S. Flexner in their Dictionary of American Slang write: Sometimes slang is used to escape the dull formality of standard words, to suggest an escape from the established routine of everyday life. When slang is used, our life seems a little fresher and a little more personal. Also, as at all levels of speech, slang is sometimes used for the pure joy of making noise. The sheer newness and informality of certain slang words produce pleasure.

• To escape from clichés, or to be brief and concise;
• just for fun;
• as a way to be witty or clever;
• to be different or startling;
• to be secretive.

Slang is a way to use language to separate yourself from others. In any language teenagers always seem to have their own distinctive vocabulary. Slang is one of the reasons why generation gap existed. Parents often simply don’t understand the sense of their children’s words and this is a foundation for conflicts and misunderstanding.

2. Conclusion

The fact that there is a growing necessity to learn an authentic language, slang should also be learned because it is also a part of the language, which helps to hold it alive.

 Studying and systematizing the theoretical material on the theme and after analyzing the use of slang, the hypothesis suggested has been proved and one can come to a conclusion that knowledge of slang really simplifies communication and comprehension. As a part of the English language it should also be paid attention in teaching. Learning slang is vital to understanding the alteration and evolution of the English language. The urgency of this problem consists in the fact that people contact native speakers more than ever and they feel a great demand to know an authentic language.

3. Appendix

Glossary of slang        

Slang is defined as a casual type of language that is playful or trendy, but they are called upon to do similar service as the ordinary words used in everyday conversation-to express thoughts and desires and convey meaning from one to another.

Glossary of acronyms

It is possible to find more acronyms on https://acronymslist.com/ .

4. Bibliography:

1. Антрушина Г.Б. Лексикология английского языка.- М.: Высшая Афанасьева О.В. школа, 1985 Морозова Н.Н
2. Aldous Huxley Crome Yellow.- Moscow: Progress Publishers, 1976
3. Lighter, Jonathan E.; J. Ball; J. OConnor, edc, Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang. Random House, 1994
4. Маковский М.М. Английские социальные диалекты.- М.: Высшая школа, 1982
5. Матюшенков В.С. Словарь английского сленга: Особенности употребления сленга в Северной Америке, Великобритании и Австралии.- М.: Флинта, 2002
6. Tonny Thorne Dictionary of contemporary slang.- London, 1997
7. Крупнов В.Н. В творческой лаборатории переводчика.- М,: Международные отношения, 1976
8. Pavlova N.V. Slang as a part of the English language.// English.-2003,-N32
9. https://examples.yourdictionary.com/20-examples-of-slang-language.html
10. https://www.bibliofond.ru/view.aspx?id=884443#text 
11. https://www.bibliofond.ru/view.aspx?id=881611