Slang is a rather complex subject, similar to the complexity of Biology. I believe there are different levels to slang. I also believe that slang itself can be identified as a second language, depending on who speaks it and where it is spoken. All my life I have spoken slang. I grew up around people who also spoke slang rather frequently. I guess one could argue slang has been a part of my very fabric since I was able to speak and remember.
Growing up I did not understand that I was speaking slang. I had never given any serious thought to the way I spoke or the people around me. I never had to. I did not realize I spoke differently or "wrong" until I was measured up against someone else's speaking, primarily white people. When I was a child I could remember being corrected by my teachers, all of whom spoke slang, but they had the ability to code switch when it was necessary, an ability I had not yet possessed.
It would often make me feel less confident when I was corrected by my teachers for speaking incorrectly, considering the fact that it was done so frequently. I could never understand why I had to adjust my speaking if my teachers understood me perfectly fine. I remember feeling a strong sense of discomfort when I spoke slang among people who did not speak slang.
Trying to adjust was like learning another language and very troubling for me. It often made me question, "What is slang?", "Why can’t I just speak the way I am comfortable?" and "Why is slang so bad if I’m perfectly understood?" All of these questions lead to my exploration of slang and compelled me to do extensive research on the subject matter. I want to understand, "why is slang considered bad in certain settings if the communication is effective?"
Slang has evolved tremendously over the years. There is not any objective defining of slang. Researchers have speculated how useful and useless slang is or has been over the years. It cannot be said that slang was ever meaningless it has been based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
Table of Contents
1. Literature Review
1.1 Defining Slang
1.2 Negative Slang
1.3 Positive Slang
2. Methods
2.1 Participants/Sample
2.2 Instruments/Measures/Analytical Approach
2.3 Procedures
3. Conclusion
4. Revisions
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this research is to investigate the perception and effectiveness of slang usage in communication, specifically analyzing how positive and negative slang terms are interpreted across different demographic groups. The study seeks to answer whether the effective usage of slang correlates with a speaker's age, race, gender, or regional background.
- The distinction between positive slang used for social connection and negative, potentially offensive slang.
- The influence of demographic factors on the perception and interpretation of slang vocabulary.
- Methodological application of Semantic Differential Scales to quantify linguistic perceptions.
- The evolutionary and pragmatic nature of slang in everyday communication settings.
Excerpt from the Book
Defining Slang
Where slang comes from is questionable (Reves, H, 1926). Slang has been defined by some researchers as the changing of words in dialogue; it comes into sudden popular acceptance or favor, has a meaning, usually metaphoric, which is known by a particular set or class and which constitutes a sort of language that is a criterion for distinguishing members of a group. Slang is ever changing, because of that it has a brief period of popularity and then dies or interestingly evolve into legitimate (accepted) speech (e.g. bling, bling, twerking). Sometimes, slang is not straightforward and at times can express strong disapproval in outwardly advisory lines (Pollock, F 1926). Slang must be seen as a component of a multitude of issues of interest to skilled people in language, aging, character, register shifts, introduction of new things, diffusion and pragmatics (Eble, C.C. 2003). Slang as ordinary English usage is often minimized or omitted in descriptions of the language. Slang must also be seen as a part of the continuum of kinds of words that people use daily to communicate with one another, at jobs, grocery shopping, making doctors’ appointments and performing the many other spontaneous dialogued acts occasioned by living (Eble, C.C. 2003). Adams (2002) asserts that “Slang or indirection, [is] an attempt of common humanity to escape from bald literalism, and express itself illimitably, which in the highest walks produces poets and poems, and doubtless in pre-historic times gave the start to, and perfected, the whole immense tangle of the old mythologies….Slang, too, is the wholesome fermentation or eructation of those processes eternally active in language, by which froth and specks are thrown up, mostly to pass away, though occasionally to settle and permanently crystallize” (p.360).
Summary of Chapters
Literature Review: This section examines theoretical definitions of slang, explores the dual nature of positive and negative slang usage, and provides relevant academic context for the study.
Methods: This chapter outlines the quantitative research approach, describing the survey design, the demographic characteristics of the participants, and the procedures for data collection.
Conclusion: The author summarizes the importance of understanding the social dynamics of slang and acknowledges the limitations posed by the evolving nature of language.
Revisions: This section details the specific changes made to the research proposal, including adjustments to participant age ranges and the measurement methodology.
Keywords
Slang, Positive Slang, Negative Slang, Communication, Semantics, Sociolinguistics, Demographic Groups, Quantitative Research, Language Evolution, Pragmatics, Social Connection, Verbal Obscenities, Linguistic Perception, Discourse, Cultural Identity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The research explores the complex role of slang in human communication, investigating how slang is defined and how its effects (both positive and negative) are perceived by different social groups.
What are the core thematic fields covered in the work?
The work covers sociolinguistics, communication styles, the impact of slang on interpersonal relations, and the demographic variables that influence linguistic perception.
What is the primary research question?
The study specifically asks if the effective usage of positive or negative slang correlates with the age, race, gender, or regional background of the participants.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author employs a quantitative research method, utilizing surveys featuring Semantic Differential Scales to measure participant responses on a bipolar continuum.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body includes a literature review on slang definitions, an analysis of the distinctions between positive and negative slang, and a detailed plan for a field survey involving participants aged 14-35.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Slang, Sociolinguistics, Pragmatics, Quantitative Research, Linguistic Perception, and Communication.
How is the term 'effective' defined in the context of this study?
In this research, 'effective' is defined as the successful production of a desired or intended result when using slang in communication.
Why did the author decide to broaden the age range of participants to include older individuals?
The author, being close to 30 years old, realized they communicate with older individuals daily and believed it would be interesting and more representative to include this demographic in the research.
How does the author plan to reach potential survey participants?
The author plans to recruit via social media (Facebook) and by conducting field research in person within various urban and suburban neighborhoods, malls, and restaurants.
What is the role of the 'Semantic Differential Scale' in this research?
This scale is used to quantify subjective feelings about slang usage by asking participants to rate statements on a 1-5 continuum between bipolar adjectives like 'tactful' and 'rude'.
- Quote paper
- Eliza Williams (Author), 2013, Defining the Positive and Negative Effects of Slang Usage, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/542229
