This paper examines the functions of synonym-based blends in modern slang language. The objective of this work is to argue tentatively that synonym-based blends in contemporary "slanguage" serve a productive function and are not redundant in their meaning by validating the functions established by Benczes (2014) with a particular focus on synonym-based slang blends.
In English morphological literature, the term "tautological compound" is used to refer to two phenomena: For one, compounds composed of a hyponym and a superordinate term (e.g., oak tree); and secondly, compounds based upon two synonymous units (e.g., subject matter). It is commonly considered a word-formation that is redundant in its meaning and serves no semantical functions. This concept has recently been challenged by a study demonstrating that tautological compounds are far from being redundant. Much like tautological compounds, there is an abundance of slang blends in the contemporary English language whose word formation appears redundant and tautological at face value.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Tautological compounds and their functions
3. Material & Methods
4. Results & Discussion
5. Conclusion
6. References
Research Objectives and Focus
This paper investigates the linguistic functions of synonym-based blends within contemporary English slang, aiming to demonstrate that these formations are not merely redundant, but serve productive communicative purposes by validating frameworks of tautological compounds.
- Analysis of synonym-based blends in modern slang language.
- Validation of tautological compound functions established by Benczes (2014).
- Investigation of semantic productivity and non-redundancy in word formation.
- Comparative examination of synonym-based blends vs. traditional compounds.
- Evaluation of 'Emphasis' and 'Clarification' as functional markers in slanguage.
Excerpt from the Book
Synonymous compounds – Clarification:
Another evident function of Synonymous compounds may be to clarify one’s meaning (Ullmann, 1967). With the underlying desire to clarify its meanings, Synonymous collocations often constitute of a French word and its native synonym. This has the purpose to familiarize people with new and unfamiliar words. These coinages are mostly prevalent in legal language as court proceedings were mostly in French in the past English judicial system (Benczes, 2014; Tiersma, 1999). Later, this process has become more of a stylistic and decorative feature of the variety (Gessler, 1998). For instance, ‘subject matter’ constitutes of ‘matter’, which is of Anglo-Norman origin, and ‘subject’, which predates the Latinate ‘subject’ by at least one hundred years. Thus, it appears feasible to conclude that ‘subject matter’ (first citation from 1380) functions to clarify a non-native word with its native synonyms (Benczes, 2014).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of tautological compounds and identifies the research gap regarding the perceived redundancy of synonym-based blends in contemporary slang.
2. Tautological compounds and their functions: The author defines the theoretical framework of tautological compounds, detailing how categorization, upgrading concepts, emphasis, and clarification serve as non-redundant linguistic functions.
3. Material & Methods: This section describes the methodological approach, involving the extraction and analysis of 19 synonym-based slang blends from an existing database of contemporary neologisms.
4. Results & Discussion: The results demonstrate that most analyzed blends function primarily to provide 'Emphasis' or 'Clarification', contributing unique communicative value rather than serving as mere redundant repetitions.
5. Conclusion: The research affirms that the investigated slang blends are not redundant, suggesting that even semantically overlapping constituents provide subtle communicative details that enhance language.
6. References: A comprehensive list of academic sources and linguistic dictionaries utilized to support this study.
Keywords
Tautological compounds, synonym-based blends, slanguage, linguistic redundancy, word formation, semantics, morphosyntax, emphasis, clarification, categorization, neologisms, slang, linguistic innovation, morphosyntactic headedness, semantic overlap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental topic of this research paper?
The paper explores "tautological compounds"—specifically synonym-based blends—within modern English slang to determine if these formations are truly redundant or if they serve specific communicative functions.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The study covers morphology, semantics, lexicology, and word-formation processes, specifically focusing on how slang shapes standard language through the invention of new, non-redundant blends.
What is the primary goal or research question?
The primary goal is to argue that synonym-based blends in slang are productive and non-redundant, by testing if the functions of standard tautological compounds (as defined by Benczes) apply to slang blends.
Which scientific method is employed?
The author uses a comparative linguistic analysis, identifying synonym-based blends from an existing database and evaluating their functions against established definitions through dictionaries and semantic analysis.
What are the main contents of the primary chapters?
The main part of the paper reviews existing theories of tautological compounds, establishes a methodology for analyzing slang blends, and presents a comparative discussion of 19 specific slang examples to test their communicative roles.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include tautological compounds, synonym-based blends, slanguage, semantic overlap, and morphological innovation.
How does the "requestion" example illustrate the function of clarification?
The blend "requestion" combines the meanings of both a request and a question, allowing it to convey a nuanced desire for information and action simultaneously—a meaning that neither base word could capture alone.
What is the significance of the "slanguage" concept in this analysis?
"Slanguage" refers to the highly creative, constantly changing nature of slang, which the author argues is a primary driver for morphological and semantic innovation in contemporary English.
Why are standard tautological compounds often considered "informationally empty"?
In traditional linguistic approaches, they are viewed as redundant because one element is already semantically included in the other; however, this paper challenges that view in the context of slang.
What are the identified limitations of the study?
The author notes that a small database and the restriction to only two of the four known linguistic functions limit the ability to generalize the results across all types of slang.
- Quote paper
- Leyla Beyer (Author), 2022, Tautological Compounds in contemporary "slanguage". The (non-) redundancy of synonym-based blends, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1319068
