1、略论现代美国俚语（Remarks on Modern American Slang）Chinese abstractModern American slang is a very special language form, which has unique language expression and a long history. The westward movement of the American continent in the nineteenth Century prompted the formation of American slang, and in twentie
2、th Century it was a period of rapid growth of American slang. From its source point of view, the subculture of the mainstream culture to the penetration of celebrities, and then new things, new concepts emerge in large numbers, resulting in a large number of slang. In the process of development, Ame
3、rican slang has gradually formed its own style features: humorous, witty, vivid, easy to express emotion, update quickly, etc At the same time, its role in society is reflected in: the embodiment of the identity of the speaker; strengthen the relationship between each member of the group; the speake
4、r reflects the level of education and culture quality and reflect the Americans to hold the social attitude. For modern American slang, scholars have different opinions, but it is undeniable that the emergence and development of modern American slang are the requirements of society and times. Today,
5、 simplicity and penetration with standard language have become the major trends in modern American slang.Key words: American slang; origin; characteristics; social function; prospect; linguistic statusI. IntroductionModern American slang is a very complicated language phenomenon. It refers to some s
6、pecial class, industry or prisoners, gangs use jargon and slang. Some vulgar, difficult to get in good taste, some simple, humorous, is accepted by the public, while others are only in some small range of popular, such as within an industry, a place for a period of time, its life is not long, often
7、emerge of itself and perish of itself.According to the imprecise statistics, Americans use about 10 thousand to 20 thousand words, of which about more than 2000 or 10% words are slang, and they are also frequently used in American daily life. Therefore, some linguists think that if a person not fami
8、liar with American slang, want in the American society and people to communicate is not possible, sometimes even reading newspapers will be very difficult, because modern American slang has frequently appeared in newspapers and books.Modern American slang is a very non-standard language variation, i
9、s becoming more and more important in the contemporary American society fulfilled the social function, and the special language innovation, has been gradually integrated into English standard language category, as a supplement to the standard language indispensable expression method. This article wi
10、ll make a rough study of its emergence, development prospects, social functions and characteristics.Two, the background and origin of modern American slang(1) the background of modern American slangIn nineteenth Century, during the westward movement of the American continent, many Americans emigrate
11、d to the West in large numbers, forming a large population flow. In this way, each of the local dialect and the various social strata jargon, if followed, people passed by. Because the United States official does not emphasize “language“, and “little language purification“, thus appear constantly ja
12、rgon and colloquial language form through the spread of non-stop use, became todays American slang. At the same time, the United States is a nation of immigrants from many ethnic groups. These immigrants bring their own language, and also create new words which are blended with American English, whi
13、ch makes slang more and more.By the twentieth Century, American slang had developed by leaps and bounds. The two World War, the Vietnam War, the Korean War and the cold war period of slang, and American society emerging social problems such as racial discrimination, civil rights movement, family dis
14、integration, the younger generation of alcohol and drug abuse, anti war movement, sexual liberation, homosexuality and so on make such as American slang emerged like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. In 90s eight, the economic development and the rapid advancement of science and technology, modern
15、American slang shows a large increase in the number of full of vigour vitality, computer slang, slang, slang and other emerging sports slang and into everyday life.(two) the origin of modern American slangOneThe infiltration of subculture into mainstream cultureModern American slang has a wide range
16、 of sources. Argot jargon and slang had many wonderful slang, “such as the criminals to prison society called Street (street), as they say, the world is divided into two parts inside and outside of prison, and the prison is a street, as long as they are not in the street, they are the activities of
17、the local Street time, so this slang is used to refer to the period of parole.“ 1 to kick the bucket “(meaning is dead, to die or pass away), this slang is very popular, because in seventh Century England, the death penalty, the prisoner will in the bucket (bucket), the executioner put a noose aroun
18、d the neck, and then kick the bucket, the prisoner will because the noose taut and suffocation. This slang phrase is now widely used to refer to any form of death.“ A variety of 2 soldiers, police, students, workers, unemployed and homeless, drivers, prostitutes, criminals belonging to the subcultur
19、e of the social groups in the contribution of slang is huge, they create slang always kept in the update, and each has its characteristics. Although some of the lingo or involving sexual slang intolerable to the ear, but there is no denying that they are one of the main sources of modern American sl
20、ang.2., the active promotion of celebritiesThe mainstream of todays slang is slang for the elite who dominate the cultural mainstream of the United states. As the cultural center of the United States, New York, San Francisco, Losangeles, Houston, Chicago and other large cities dominate the American
21、culture through media. These city elites such as politicians, businessmen, television presenter, columnist and entertainment stars, higher education, most of them are well filled with wisdom, with a strong ability to express, is one of the main creators of daily American slang. Slang, much-racker, r
22、efers to people who spy on personal privacy and political scandals, which frequently appear in social life and political life, and have entered the category of spoken language. Has been defined as “difficult to get in good taste“ of American slang has frequently appeared in the newspaper, a masterpi
23、ece, biographies, and even the president of the United States formally speech. So it can be said that American slang has been blended into the blood of the mainstream culture.3., the emergence of new things, new conceptsIn recent years, with the rapid development of economy and science and technolog
24、y, a large number of new slang have emerged to express new things and new concepts. Such as: hot line, fall out (hotline) (radioactive dust), Afro (fluffy hair), one of the most classic and most of the “cool“ is slang for having heard it many times, the original intention is “cool, cool“ meaning, as
25、 slang meaning “beautiful, wonderful“. In these emerging industries and emerging things, the IT industry, entertainment industry, sports industry and other slang appear almost occupy half of todays slang. Pop music, such as “rock and roll“, is often used to refer to rock music. “Groove is intended t
26、o record the lines, and later evolved into the slang“ groove “(the great pop, pop singer), because once a name, broadcasters will fall over each other to record their songs. The resulting “in the groove“ this idiom is used to illustrate a singers success and popularity, but other people once engaged
27、 in occupation career success and are often said to float upon the clouds, “in the groove“, the meaning of the word is thus extended down.“ 3 is also like “ankle biter“: someone who bites his heel (after someone and imitates someone). “Bite the heel“ refers to the original child, but in the field of
28、 IT, describe a person who is a “bite the heel“ has another meaning, refers to “a“ computer expert, they love to operate a computer, want to be a hacker or something, so famous, but they alerted the world, the computer knowledge and work skills is very limited, so that this type of human ankle biter
29、.“ 4 talks about the word “hacker“,People have to think of the popular movie “the matrix“ in recent years, hacker refers to the original computer programming language master programmer, now this word has a pejorative, some love refers to the destruction of others, and even illegal invasion of comput
30、er system master computer. It is obvious that new things and new concepts not only create new slang words, but also give new meanings to old words and enrich the meanings of words. This also reflects the characteristics of modern American slang for novelty and change.Three, the basic features and so
31、cial functions of modern American slang(1) the basic features of modern American slang;“Energetic, cheerful, non conformist, innovative, etc are all national characteristics that Americans are proud of.“ 5 these features in their daily communication way of talking and words have been fully reflected
32、 on the characteristics, national characteristics and the American slang can match, which is more unique, more prominent.1. humor and witThe embodiment of 1.1. pronunciationMany American slang is the use of homophonic to easy to understand and to the ear, vivid and powerful effect, especially the rh
33、yme of tactics to achieve vivid and humorous expression effect. For example, wiggle-waggle (swing, chat, gossip), tiptop (excellent), super-super (particularly large, conspicuous, significant), razzle-dazzle (carnival, enchanted), hurry-scurry (hoity-toity (with), covered with confusion), Ding-ding
34、(energetic, strong), dilly-dally (-) etc Is this the way to feel the rhythm and rhyme of vivid, voice sweet, wide spread and smooth communication can contribute to language, and a sense of humour.1.2 the embodiment of vocabularyHumor in modern American slang is expressed chiefly by means of abbrevia
35、tion, truncation, repetition, etc Many American slang is composed of acronyms are used, such as the North Atlantic Treaty as everyone knows NATO is the first letter of the Organization component, is the famous “NATO“, but the creative, naturally humorous Americans have developed it into a different
36、meaning: No Action Talk Only (slang words) and successfully ridiculed a real NATO. There are other acronyms such as: “VIP (very important person figure V. (D), venereal disease, venereal disease, venereal disease), D chicken heart (narrow vision); lay, an, egg (bombs) and so on. If you see someone e
37、lse as a “couch potato“, it shows that your lifestyle is very passive. Lying on the couch all day, like the withered plants (potato), the image vivid and appropriate, full of humour, like metaphor, can be found everywhere in American slang. Such as upper storey (upstairs) as the “mind“, beanpole (PO
38、D) refers to the fine, flick refers to the movie, fox refers to young, attractive woman. As a lexicographer H.Bradelly pointed out “almost no one to meet the total things words often seem as clear as noonday, It is quite common for being too familiar with lost power, if it had been a vivid or grotes
39、que metaphor, monotonous boring language will become vivid and interesting. This helpless change illustrates the reasons for the constant development of slang.“ 72. convenient and conciseGenerally speaking, in American daily communication, the use of standard language is serious, even dull, while sl
40、ang is quick, concise, vivid, and more expressive and expressive. For example, hop (slang) and lance (standard) have a “dance“ of Italy, in comparison, hop more dynamic, more reminiscent of grass hopper (grasshopper) vivid form in bouncing on the grass, very happy feeling, more joyful colors; while
41、lance is formal, solemn that would be reminiscent of the gorgeous dance, graceful dance and fine clothes. Therefore, peoples daily communication preference is slang because the exact image, its easy to pronounce, concise, vigorous and effective.3. update quicklyThe vitality of modern American slang
42、largely depends on novelty“. New slang, after repeated repetition, inevitably becomes bland and eventually becomes boring cliches and is discarded or replaced by new words. Therefore, according to the length of life, slang can be divided into two parts, part of a flash in the pan, fleeting, was elim
43、inated; the other part is after a period of time, the standard language to absorb or upgrade to the spoken language. For example: skidoo (go away), peach (girl), skirt (women) and so on, has flourished temporarily slang, slowly forgotten by the people. The guy (man, guy), fan, yes-man (Rumi) (yesman
44、), cop (police) and enduring, used so far; while others such as have a ball, have had (Merry) (it, get and with suffer enough) it (note or busy) etc. the oral expression, even is the most familiar “OK“ is slang for the original, but now it has become the standard language of fashion, almost can be h
45、eard everywhere. Generally speaking, the life span of slang is only a few to several decades, and then it gradually withdraws from the vocabulary. But this does not mean that all slang is the same, different features, different functions, their fate is not the same.(two) the social function of moder
46、n American slang1. reflects the speakers identity and statusThe use of language belongs to social behavior. As a part of language, the use of slang also belongs to social behavior. Different social groups or groups have different slang expressions. They use slang that belongs only to their group to
47、indicate their status and social status. If you are a student to talk with students such as brutal (great), flunk sb. (give sb a failing grades), fender-bender (a thing), apple polish (flattering, flattery) such as slang will is unavoidable. If someone wants to make sure that he is a member of a jaz
48、z group, the fact that he only needs to use more slang like jazz, such as Gabriel, can be used in conversation.2. strengthen relations among members of the groupAs a member of a group,They share common interests and interests, so they like to use unique slang that belongs only to their group. They s
49、eem obscure to outsiders, but they seem to be full of wit and humour. It can make use of these slang members belong to this group or group to experience a sense of identity, the relationship between them and the other members are enhanced when they encounter difficulties, can count on others for care and help, to have a sense of security and psychological satisfaction. Police slang, student slang, black slang, military slang, entertainment slang, IT slang, etc. are used to indicate their identity and to strengthen their sense of belonging in a particular group.3. reflects th
