美国俚语的产生及功能的分析

美国俚语的产生及功能的分析
本科毕业论文
美国俚语的产生及功能的分析
On the Origins and Functional Analysis of American Slangs Table of Contents
Introduction (1)
Chapter 1 The Definition of American Slangs (3)
Chapter 2 The Origins of American Slangs (5)
2.1 Background (5)
2.2The Classification of the Origins of American slangs (5)
2.2.1 Foreign Language Slangs and American Native Slang (5)
2.3Language Itself (6)
2.3.1 The Angle of Linguistic Analysis (6)
2.3.2The Viewpoint of Semantic (7)
2.4History (7)
2.5Culture (7)
2.5.1 A Variety of Sub-cultural Groups Exist (7)
2.5.2 The Infiltration from Asian Cultural to Dominant Culture (8)
2.6The Social and Cultural Conditions (8)
2.6.1 American Culture and the Diversity of National Character (8)
2.6.2New Things and New Concepts (9)
Chapter 3 The Function of American Slangs (9)
3.1Social Function (9)
3.1.1Strengthen the Internal Cohesion (9)
3.1.2Adjust Interpersonal Relationships (10)
3.1.3 Maintain a Balance of Human Psychology (10)
3.1.4Reflect the Speaker's Position (11)
3.1.5 Meet People's Sense of Renewal, Reflect Personality (11)
3.1.6 Overcome the Communicational Barrier (12)
3.2Refraction Function (13)
3.2.1Refract the Trend of Oral English (13)
3.2.2Refract the Ordinary Life (14)
3.2.3Refract the Attitude to the Reality (14)
Conclusion (15)
Acknowledgements (16)
Bibliography (17)
美国俚语的产生及功能的分析
专业班级：08级学生姓名：王彦峰
指导教师：李国云职称：讲师
摘要现代美国俚语是一种非书面性语言的创新，是历史和文化的结晶。

简单来说，美国俚语是一种非正式的口语化风格，生动，幽默，创新和夸张等。

俚语是客观存在的被许多人经常使用的语言，是词汇中不可或缺的组成部分，已成为及其重要的交际工具。

但它常常留给人粗俗，轻佻的印象。

实际上，作为人们交际工具的语言，本身没有阶级性。

美国俚语发展迅速，它作为美国文化一种特殊的载体，具有浓厚的文化色彩。

本文将从背景、语言学角度、外来俚语和美语土产俚语、历史，文化以及社会文化等方面分析了美国俚语产生的原因。

另一方面，又将从俚语的社会功能及折射功能来阐述美国俚语存在的价值。

它的社会功能体现在强化集团内部凝聚力、调解人际关系、维持人类心理平衡、满足人们的新鲜感，体现个性,克服交流障碍。

它的折射功能体现在反映了英语口语的发展方向，普通民众的真实生活。

同时它还折射出一种态度：人们通过语言而表明自己对现实的态度。

关键词：美国俚语；起源；功能
On the Origins and Functional Analysis of American Slangs
Abstract Modern American slang is a non-written language innovation and the crystal of history and culture. Slang is an informal colloquial style, with lively, humorous, short, innovation
and exaggeration and so on. Slang is an objective existence which is often used by many people, and has become an integral component of the language and an important communication tool. But it often leaves a vulgar, frivolous impression to people. In fact, as a communication tool for people, it can not be regarded as good or bad. American slang develops rapidly, which has a strong cultural flavor as a special carrier.
This paper elaborates the reason of American slang origins from the backgrounds, Language itself, foreign language slang and American native slang, history, culture, the social and cultural conditions. On the other hand, this paper analyzes the social functions and the refraction functions to express the existence values. Its social functions include strengthen the internal cohesion. Maintain a balance of human psychology etc. The slang refracts the trend of oral English and the life of ordinary people. At the same time, it refracts a kind of attitude by which the people treat the reality.
Key Words American slangs; origin; function
Introduction
In America, more and more people are partial to using slang in their daily life communication and writing technique. In the past, people’s impression of slang may be that slang is rude, dirty, and indecent; but today, as a highly colloquial speech which has become the most colorful and vivid member of the family of languages. “The vocabulary of an ordinary America generally is estimated at 10,000---20,000 words…according to my conservative estimation about 2,000 words are slang.”(Chapman, R.ed.4) The number shows the important status of slang in American English, therefore we should eliminate the traditional bias of slang. Slang is popular in America because of its freshness,
lifelikeness, humor, and it is an effective way of communication; at the same time, it also carries strong cultural implications of America because most slang words come from each sub-cultural group, which reflect their actual life. “it is impossible to acquire a thorough knowledge of English（or of any other language, for that matter）without being familiar with slang and vulgarism. Whoever is uninitiated…will be at a loss to understand many of the masterpieces of English literature? Nay…he will scarcely be able even to understand an English newspaper.” (Partridge.73)As it were, an English learner can not communicate with foreigners at their pleasure without much understanding in American slang. From this point, slang is a bridge for English learners to make up the cultural gap, so we should know and treat slang with a correct attitude. There is no such thing as good or bad, right or wrong in language. As a special form of language, its existence is a kind of outcome of culture and history.
As a highly colloquial speech, it is especially effective on casual and intimate occasions. The attitudes toward slang are also very contradictory among common people especially scholars. Nowadays, more and more people begin their research on slang for its widespread. In this paper, the author is trying to analyze the origins and functions of American slang from various aspects, such as history, culture etc. Firstly, the paper will expound the definition of slang, in the author’s mind, slang is like jeans which has been widely accepted by most of Americans. Although the jeans can not be worn into the magnificent party, it is pleasurable, comfortable, free and has been popular in the whole America even the world. It is the myth in the capricious fashion circle. Slang is the myth in the language kingdom just as jeans.
Secondly, the paper will expound the origins of American slangs. The author tends to analyze the origins of American slangs from various angles, include background, history, culture, etc. Similarly, on the functions of slang, the author will analyze the social functions and the refraction functions to express existence values. Its social functions include strengthen the internal cohesion、Maintain a balance of human psychology etc. The slang refracts the trend of oral English and the life of ordinary people. At the same time, it refracts a kind of attitude by which the people treat the reality. So the author wander more and more people can eliminate their abuses of slang and draw up how vivid, poetic, convenient and colorful slang is. A better understanding of American slang and some new and deep impression of it may be achieved.
Chapter 1 The Definition of American Slangs
What is slang? Slang is a special form of language, a long time; there is no uniform definition of the slang of the standard specification. As for slang, it is nearly impossible to be defined clearly and there has been different definitions and many controversies. We can refer to some of them to give us a special insight into our understanding of slang. Slang is an informal colloquial style, with lively, humorous, short, innovation and exaggeration and so on. Sometimes people will understand it as "jargon" (JARGON: an industry, profession, or similar groups in the use of professional or technical language, it is business-related), "code word" (ARGOT: the use of a particular group specialized group of words or phrases, it is crime-related), because the boundaries between them is not so clear at all times. But what is certain is that they are cryptic.
The definition of "American Heritage Dictionary" about slang
is that slang is an informal game of words in a language, the basic existence is very short form derived words and rhetoric, they are deliberately used in place of standard terms in order to achieve a vivid, humorous or other effect; Modern English-Chinese of Oxford Dictionary about slang is that slang are generally used for friends or colleagues conversation, but not for good writing or formal occasions, the words; especially of a class understanding of idioms, such as military slang, prison slang.
The definition of "World Book Dictionary English" on the slang as follows: (1) slang usually refers to the popular new time is not long, vulgar, and popular word, phrase or meaning. Slang is usually very vivid and expressive, often used between friends in casual conversation, it can not be presentable and acceptable in formal speech or article; (2) slang is a special language by some of the particular stage or class; (3) some slang are special language used by hooligans, thieves or belong to a movement; sometimes the language is an occupation; slang is black words or incision. "Langwen Modern Advanced English Dictionary " will be defined slang as "very informal language that includes new and sometimes not polite words and meaning, is often used among particular groups of people and is used, not used in serious speech or writing".
The more authoritative and objective definition is offered by The oxford English Dictionary, “language of a highly colloquial type, considered as below the level of standard educated speech, and consisting either of new words or of current employed in some special sense.”; In the face of
many various definitions, it’s difficult to give us an accurate definition of slang; meanwhile, there is no criterion for us to distinguish slang. As a result, people have two very different
attitudes, some people will think slang is the synonym of vulgar and unmeaning language, which is commonly used by low social groups and uneducated people, and the upper class should refuse using slang; another people may think slang is easy to say and convenient to communication for its free, humorous, relaxed styles, even some people hold that take ‘American slang’ in place of ‘American English’ for its popularity. The feature of informality distinguish slang from the standard English and writing language, the wide usage tells slang from jargon, cant, argot which are only used among some special social groups. Although many people and English learners tend to think slang is a ‘language wastes’, we can not judge that slang is good or bad just as we can not come to conclude a man is an angel or a devil. In fact, it is also hard to distinguish whether a word belongs to slang or not from the angle s of linguistics and pragmatics. For example, ‘bread’ means a kind of food as a standard English, but refe rs to ‘money’ as a slang word; ‘sweat’ becomes ‘trouble’ as a slang word from its original meaning ‘liquid which comes out through your skin when you are hot or frightened’ as a standard English; Mostly, some words have two characters, they are standard English in some context, but express another different meaning as a slang under some given situation; this is the main reason for us to have no standard definition of slang, even in the authoritative dictionaries. Sometimes, there is a little distance between slang and other language forms. Anyway, our attitudes to slang should be tend to more objective, moderate, considerate, which is beneficial for us to have a good grip of slang. As for me, slang comes from the usual life, is the reflection and mirror of the subculture groups, the ordinary people, the special communities ; it is the products
of social culture in specific period, the innovation of language speech; slang just like the jeans which has been widely accepted by most of Americans. Although the jeans can not be worn into the magnificent party, it is pleasurable, comfortable, free and has been popular in the whole America even the world. It is the myth in the capricious fashion circle. Slang is the myth in the language kingdom just as jeans.
Chapter 2 The Origins of American Slangs
2.1 Background
There is a long history with the introduction of language, also with slang, but the American English slang, according to research DICKSON, since the "Mayflower brand" ship. 1620, English Puritans took this ship across the Atlantic to North America, New World, in America's "Westward Movement", the formation of large-scale population movements conducted, thus, each of the local dialects and the jargon of various social strata, black words together up, people pass with each other. Because the U.S. government does not emphasize the "standard language", it's rare for "language purification"
Thus the usage of different patterns of languages such as the merging jargon and idiom and so on, became a slang used by Americans today. In the 20th century, the American slang with rapid development. The Two world wars, the Vietnam War, Korean War, the Cold War and other period have produced a lot of slangs, as well as continuing emerge social problems in American society, such as: racial discrimination, civil rights movement, family disintegration, the younger generation of alcohol and drug abuse, anti- war movement, sexual freedom, homosexuality even more the United States emerged as slang, like bamboo shoots.
As a communication tool ,and is rich and very dynamic composition in English language, with the development of society, some slangs as no longer meet the community benefit, no longer in use, slowly exit from the community in this arena; while enduring some still active, and slowly entered the ranks of the standard language. At the same time, the new slang could fill the gap like the mushroom.
2.2 The Classification of the Origins of American Slangs
2.2.1 Foreign Language Slang and American Native Slang
American English slang origin can be divided into two categories: foreign language native slang and American native slang. Early foreign slang mostly from English, this is because there is a historical source between American English and English. Then there are other languages to use English slang, but the number is small, the other is a American native English slang.
As the historical source between American English and English ,many of the early American English slang from the English. In English, the development of slang is closely related to the jargon, dialect system. Initially slang refers to jargon of underground social groups, almost it is equivalent to the black case, jargon, and refers to the different dialects and pronunciations. Thus the black case of prisoners became slang is in the 16-17 century. This slang generate up to Sharon and casino. Despite the slow development of English slangs, but then gradually into the public view, and appeared in a number of popular plays. In 18th century English slang in the United States appeared in large numbers and began to flourish.
At this point American slang which enjoys popularity among thieves is form English, such as: swatch for the thief that's stolen goods to the sales site for samples.
Some American slangs from the political sphere. A lot of slangs related to politic are fostered by Powerful American political system and a large number of political events. As these slangs with very high concern of usage, and some of them have entered the ranks of the daily standard language. Such as: baby kisses mean that politicians who are good at public speaking to win over the hearts and minds. Some slang from various professions. U.S. military, universities and schools are conducive to a large number of U.S. production areas. For example: flag means give a person F. that some a person whose some a homework is failing.
In United States, the colorful culture of social such as ball games and sports, fast food , film and television also contributed to a lot of slangs. Since the invention of television, since the popular TV show is welcome, this has generated a lot of this related to the slang. Such as: couch potato are those who sit all day watching TV fans.
2.3 Language Itself
2.3.1 Linguistic Analysis
Slang as a language, it only lives in human society during its use. ①It is people need to interact generated. Slang is the jargon of social overlap between popular culture and then overlap (is common parts, and the common part is a powerful tool to communicate with them). It meets the exchange of different sectors of the needs of people, so its appearance is inevitable.
②language as the development of human society is gradually improving.
2.3.1.1 Social Development is the Motive of the Development of Language.
Meyer (A. Meillet) think that the language of variation is the
result of social change, only a causal relationship between them is sometimes direct, but in most cases is indirect; because the only way to change the existing conditions of the language is changes in society. Contemporary sociolinguistics support that the initial impetus of language development not only should be looked for changes in society but also in its change process, and will also be impede by a variety of social factors.
2.3.2 From the Viewpoint of Semantic
Most of slangs origin from the value of the generation of conflict, the surface or no conflict. In this case, if a person is a new way through the language is very clever, witty satire to express hostility, contempt and other emotions, he might coined the slang. If the slang for the same groups of other people's recognition, will be using the spread. Slang generated and no scientific law. Slang is simple, convenient and lively authentic performance characteristics and its close relationship is irreplaceable, and is the main causes of slang.
2.4 History
In the ‘Westward Movement’ of 19 century, many Americas moved to the west which caused large-scale migration. The American government pays less attention to the ‘standard English’ and standardizes the English. The his tory of America is not as long as other countries, so it has not traditional restriction to the people’s language form, which is different from British people who stress on the so-called ‘the king’s English’. Therefore, the dialect and the jargon of each level are mixed together, and which spread quickly among the majority. Such dialect and jargon evolved the slang little by little for their wide usage.
2.5 Culture
2.5.1 A variety of Sub-cultural Groups Exist
Peng Yuanfeng and Sun Peijie said: "Since there will be a human language with slang, slang of production and social and cultural ties of ethnicity," [1].
Subcultures of American society for the production of slang provide fertile soil. In the past, it was drug addicts, homeless, black, gambling, and prisoners to use the language of the lower, such as the nose candy, horse, grass, weed tea, pot, black stuff, mud, shooting gallery, etc.. in the black community, it is a large number of manufacturing and usage, such as the dog juice (cheap wine), jazz (jazz), blues (blues), cat2walk (walking dance), rock roll ( rock) and so on. With the development, the source of slang and its meaning has expanded continuously, cowboys, soldiers, policemen, athletes, also joined the team. Subculture positive infiltrate mainstream culture. Later, students, politicians and businessmen also joined in the creation and use of slang in the ranks. Thus, from the President to civilians in the use of slang. such as former U.S. President Ronald Reagan liked to say a word is: Here we go again. The implied meaning of the speaker on a matter of repetition has been a bit impatient. As long as he was at the press conference intractable problems continue to bother the same time these words from his mouth would blurt out.
2.5.2 The Infiltration from Asian Culture to the Dominant Culture
The frequent exchanges of subculture between Member States strengthen the groups spread out within a slang trends, led to help in the subculture to be outside the public in widely disseminated (Pengyuan Feng, Sun Peijie, 2003). For example, gamblers with a buck (= dollar) and the big one refers to 100 yuan, respectively, and a thousand dollars bet, because the two
words in the subculture within the high frequency of occurrence, to infiltrate groups, the group was outside the people use, so buck on to refer to 100 yuan, big one to refer to 1000 yuan.
2.6 The Social and Cultural Conditions
2.6.1 American Culture and the Diversity of National Character.
The United States is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural focus, the historically known as the world's "melting pot." The country that in the full enjoyment of "democracy, freedom, human rights," every nation's immigrants maintain their own beliefs, customs, and even language. In their view, the unfair treatment to any other cultures could result in the loss of humanity of members that make up cultural groups. They also believe that if those minorities blending the traditional with the whole community, then people with different cultural backgrounds are able to enjoy a full harmonious society which is full of equality and good wishes. National "brand" form the United States to a multi-cultural groups country, and cultural borrowing will inevitably lead to linguistic borrowing, therefore, foreign
language and American English slang will continue to increase. In addition, within the framework of mainstream culture, there are many sub-cultural groups. The differences between Socio-economic status groups and educational background that make up the decision of the differences between way of thinking and values of the group members, people's language requirement and expression are therefore somewhat different. Therefore, the diversity of American culture and provides a fertile soil for the production and the prosperity of slang.
Culture cast national character into the deep heritage, generation after generation of Americans to achieve their
"American Dream", tirelessly pursuing, even at the cost of life. Energetic, and creative; cheerful and lively, not rigid; bold innovation, pursuit of novelty; contempt for authority, advocating freedom and equality, these are Americans so proud national identity, therefore, it can be said that the broad American slang and the American national character are not unrelated.
2.6.2 New Things and New Concepts
At last, the emergence of new things and concepts give a huge impetus to the expanding of slang. New objects, ideas require new words to describe them. With the development of media, a lot of slang words are cre ated and widely spread. Such as ‘sitcom’(situation comedy), ‘chat show’(talk show), ‘bomb’(failure)etc. we can also take the modern science and technology as an example, ‘bird’(the satellite of dispatch), ‘chip head’(enthusiast of computer). Similarly, cre ation of slang occurs in other fields, such as sports, campus and so on. So the development of all aspects of society gives tremendous amount birth to the slang.
Finally, American slang is quickly appearing and expanding under the above-mentioned backgrounds. The existence of language is restricted by cultural context of society and sentiment of the speaker.
Chapter3 The Function of American Slangs
3.1 Social Function
3.1.1 Strengthen the Internal Cohesion.
Slang is language within a particular society, are often used in peer or gang, it reflects the internal members of the equality and harmonious relationships. Different social groups use their own unique argot or jargon. Such as: a box (= a piano), a
number (= a tune), to swing (= to play well) is a jazz lover's term;
a beetle (= a small car), a horse (= a motorcar) is traffic police jargon; left bridge (= left front pocket), right bridge (= right front pocket), to kiss the dog (= to steal the victim's money face to face) is the argot of pickpockets. Pickpocket argot signal transmission through these perpetrators, even if the object is Grilled heard, may not be aware of them. So pick a partner, the safe and success rate is high. Therefore, the slang play the role of such a society: boundaries of division and identity groups, and to maintain or obtain some kind of slang user group membership (BemardSpolsky, 2000). "Time" magazine's well-known writer Lance Morrow (1986) pointed out that a group of slang, it gives some kind of status and identity of group members; in the maintenance of concealment, consistent, self-esteem at the same time, through the language of rebellion, so that the groups and other social were distinguished.
3.1.2 Adjust Interpersonal Relationships.
Slang is informal language informality, it can bring both sides to talk casually familiar with the atmosphere, thus facilitating close to each other and eliminate barriers. If a teacher said to the student who can not answer the question: come along, my boy, cheer up, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Then the students will be wiped embarrassed, classroom atmosphere will become active. Blacks living in New York District are often have a security-conscious to those who are generally well-educated black lawyer or doctor.
They think that those who already have superior social status, not sincere with them. However, when other people start off their land Road in black slang greeting "Hey, baby, How do you do, baby?" Their mood suddenly slack off, no longer restrained safely
handle the matter entrusted to him.
3.1.3 Maintain a Balance of Human Psychology.
Freud's theory, we can easily find, slang main driving deep force comes from "self" (ego) of the "superego" (superego) resistance. Since the society cell from the family to this community have been, the class appeared, as a social man's spirit, the "self" always be hurt, This is a common psychological of people. The slang just as a self-regulating healing agent. In order to resist the control of "superego" to the "self", to ensure "self" healthy develop, there should be a means to compensate for their weaknesses. Slang is the language of this particular one such means. Popular Campus slang in America today illustrates this point. Today's society, students are to suffer
increasing stress from family, school and community, the part spirit of "ego" are difficult to obtain independent development. It is convenient to express the complexity of thinking with the specific language, so naturally --- the school students in the unique language of slang can help them. In this way the conversation among students can be very casual. Drug in the United States has become a common phenomenon in schools, in order to express this illegal behavior, students who use a lot of fun obscure slangs to express "drugs": mother, monkey, monster, tea, straw, grass, weed, gum, nose-burner, crystal and so on. In addition, the slang involving hanging, electrocution, murder and other terms, without exception, take a mockery of the attitude of death, this deeper reflect the user of slang take a humorous attitude towards the death of this cruel phenomenon, so as to he could make himself freed from fear..
3.1.4 Reflect the Speaker's Position
The use of language is a social act, as part of the language,
the use of slang is also a social behavior. Different social groups or groups have different slangs, they use slang which belong to their respective groups, in this way to show their identity and social status. If you are a student, when talking with the students to use brutal (great), flunk somebody. ( give somebody fail mark), apple-polishing (flattering) like the slang will be indispensable. Suppose a person would like to make people believe he is a member of jazz group the fact that he more than just conversation with Cabriel (trumpet) such jazz slang specific purpose can be achieved.
3.1.5 Meet People's Sense of Renewal, Reflect Personality.
With the quickening pace of people's lives, the psychological pressure, in order to get rid of boring, monotonous life, the pursuit of psychological stimulation and novelty of new and create a lot of slangs, for example: pass away, depart to ground on behalf of die; put to sleep on behalf of hang. slang can reflect the personality, embodied self, the most representative of the 20th century 50's emerged known as the beat generation "Beat Generation" of young people culture, they were extremely dissatisfied with American society, and they have taken alternative values. They refused to accept the traditional conception. Way to Paradise to seek the spirit of enlightenment method of artistic expression. The flower children in 60s, are those who have tread wear dress clothes chest as a symbol of love.
3.1.6 Overcome the Communicational Barrier
Most of slang words are vivid, humorous, and imaginable. The short and interesting slang is better to pass on its meaning. There are many similar words among slang, such as ‘chicken’ (coward), ‘flick’ (movie), ‘wheels’ (bike). In fact, we could。