1. Introduction
In September 2010 a huge debate started in Britain after the famous actress Emma Thompson had given an interview for the BBC during which she complained heavily about the language of teenagers. “I went to give a talk at my old school and the girls were all doing their ‘likes’ and ‘innit’ and ‘it ain’ts’, which drives me insane”1, she said indignantly. Her statement probably mirrors what the majority of adults think of the language used by teenagers today. “Parents and teachers often have a critical and negative attitude towards adolescent language, judging it as ‘sloppy’ and attempting to correct vernacular features such as local accents, slang words, discourse particles or code-mixing.” (Androutsopoulos 2005: 1501) This debate about the appropriateness or inappropriateness of vernacular language use traces back to the very roots of modern sociolinguistics.
The American linguist William Labov was the first who conducted several quantitative studies concerning language variation in the 1960s (cf. Becker & Bieswanger 2006: 193). He tried to find out how the social background of speakers influences their language use, and why people decide to use either standard or non-standard language. Concluding from his studies, he developed the concept of language prestige, which assumes that standard forms have obvious (overt) prestige, whereas non-standard forms of language have a kind of hidden (covert) prestige among its speakers (cf. Becker & Bieswanger 2006: 197). So he argued that speakers do not merely use non-standard forms of language because they are uneducated or not able to use the standard form, but because the non-standard form carries symbolic or indexical meaning that the speakers want to draw on. According to that, language choice can be used to express identity or to mark group membership.
Taking Labov’s concept into consideration, contemporary teenage language should not be solely interpreted as a sign of an increasing lack of education or language decay. On the contrary, it is an expression of children’s growing identity that seeks for separation from the adult world. “Adolescence is a turning-point in life, as the individual matures both physically and cognitively, and thus has a direct influence on language acquisition and development.” (Martinez 2011a: 5)
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Concept of Teenage Language
- 3. Vocabulary
- 3.1 Word-formation Processes
- 3.1.1 Clipping
- 3.1.2 Compounding
- 3.1.3 Blending
- 3.1.4 Coinage
- 3.2 Vogue Words
- 3.1 Word-formation Processes
- 4. Swearing
- 4.1 Intensifiers
- 4.2 Abusives
- 4.3 Expletives
- 5. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze teenage language as it appears in online blogs, focusing primarily on lexical features. It examines how teenage language reflects identity formation and separation from the adult world, building upon Labov's concept of language prestige. The study also considers the influence of gender and the role of online platforms in shaping teenage linguistic innovation.
- Lexical innovation in teenage language (word formation, vogue words)
- The function and use of swearing in teenage online communication
- The role of gender in shaping teenage online language use
- The influence of online platforms (blogs) on teenage language development
- Teenage language as an indicator of identity and social group membership
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic by referencing a public debate sparked by Emma Thompson's criticism of teenage language. It establishes the sociolinguistic context, drawing on Labov's work on language prestige and its implications for understanding teenage language as a marker of identity rather than simply a sign of linguistic decay. The chapter highlights the focus of the study: a lexical analysis of teenage language found in online blogs, acknowledging the limitations of focusing primarily on vocabulary and the relative scarcity of research specifically on this topic.
2. The Concept of Teenage Language: This chapter delves into the theoretical framework for understanding teenage language. It emphasizes adolescence as a crucial period for language development, influenced not only by age but also by social factors such as education, ethnicity, cultural background, and gender. The chapter establishes that teenage language is not monolithic but diverse and dynamic, making it a rich area for linguistic research. It highlights that while lexical analysis is common in such studies, grammatical aspects are often neglected.
3. Vocabulary: This chapter is dedicated to a detailed analysis of word-formation processes (clipping, compounding, blending, coinage) and vogue words in teenage online language. It examines how teenagers create new words and adapt existing ones to express themselves and create a sense of group identity, thereby contributing to linguistic change. The chapter explores the creative processes behind lexical innovation and their significance within the overall context of the study.
4. Swearing: This chapter focuses on the diverse functions of swearing in teenage online communication. It differentiates between intensifiers, abusives, and expletives, demonstrating how swearing serves various communicative purposes, including emotional expression, group bonding, and social interaction. The chapter likely explores the specific vocabulary and contextual uses of swearing within the online environment, contrasting it with swearing amongst adults.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Teenage language, online communication, blogs, sociolinguistics, lexical analysis, word-formation, vogue words, swearing, gender, identity, language variation, linguistic change, Labov's language prestige.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Teenage Language in Online Blogs
What is the main focus of this analysis?
This analysis focuses on teenage language as it appears in online blogs, primarily examining its lexical features. It investigates how this language reflects identity formation, separation from the adult world, and the influence of gender and online platforms on linguistic innovation.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
Key themes include lexical innovation (word formation and vogue words), the function and use of swearing in online communication, the role of gender, the influence of online platforms (blogs), and teenage language as an indicator of identity and social group membership. The analysis builds upon Labov's concept of language prestige.
What theoretical framework is used?
The analysis uses a sociolinguistic framework, drawing upon Labov's work on language prestige. It acknowledges adolescence as a crucial period for language development, shaped by age, social factors (education, ethnicity, culture, gender), and the dynamic and diverse nature of teenage language itself.
What aspects of teenage language are analyzed in detail?
The analysis delves into vocabulary, including detailed examination of word-formation processes (clipping, compounding, blending, coinage) and vogue words. It also focuses on the diverse functions of swearing (intensifiers, abusives, expletives) within teenage online communication.
What are the limitations of this analysis?
The analysis acknowledges its primary focus on lexical features and the relative scarcity of research specifically on teenage language in online blogs. Grammatical aspects are largely neglected.
How does the analysis relate to existing research?
The analysis builds upon existing sociolinguistic research, particularly Labov's work, to understand teenage language as a marker of identity and social change rather than simply linguistic decay. It adds to the body of knowledge by specifically examining online blogs as a source of teenage language data.
What are the key findings or conclusions (as previewed)?
The preview suggests the analysis will show how teenagers creatively form and adapt words to express themselves and build group identity, contributing to linguistic change. It will also reveal the varied communicative purposes of swearing in online environments.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Teenage language, online communication, blogs, sociolinguistics, lexical analysis, word-formation, vogue words, swearing, gender, identity, language variation, linguistic change, Labov's language prestige.
What is the structure of the analysis?
The analysis is structured into chapters covering an introduction, the concept of teenage language, a detailed vocabulary analysis, an analysis of swearing, and a conclusion. A table of contents is provided outlining this structure.
- Quote paper
- Nicolas Raedel (Author), 2012, Teenage Language Online. An Analysis of Teenage Blogs, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/212917
