浅谈美国现代俚语

广东外语外贸大学

公开学院本科毕业论文

( 2013 届)

论文题目Remarks on Modern American Slang

（英文）

论文题目浅谈美国现代俚语

（中文）

专业英语教育

班级2013级本科

准考证号011114300840

考生刘利玉

指导教师张艳

交稿时间

论文成绩

Remarks on Modern American Slang

Liu Liyu

Abstract:Expressions that can be called slang make up a major part of American communication in movies, television, radio, newspapers, magazines and informal spoken conversation. This paper looks at the characteristics and the formations of modern American slang. Also, an attempt is made to further discuss the rhetorical features of American slang. In order to have a better communication with American people and a better understanding of the communication, the study of slang is necessary. Key words: American slang; characteristics and formations; rhetorical features

浅谈美国现代俚语

刘利玉

摘要:俚语在美国的电影、电视剧、无线电广播、报纸、杂志以及在非正式口语交谈中都占据了美国交流的大部分。这篇文章尝试着回答美国现代俚语有哪些特征以及它是如何形成的。除此之外，还将会对英语俚语中涉及的各类修辞格进行深入的讨论。通过加深对美国俚语的认识，加强与外籍朋友的交际能力。

关键词：美国俚语；特点和形成；修辞

Contents

1Introduction (4)

2Literature review (4)

3Brief analyses of modern American slangs (4)

3.1Definition (4)

3.2Characteristics (5)

3.2.1Brevity (5)

3.2.2Novelty (5)

3.2.3Instability (6)

4Rhetorical devices (7)

4.1Lexical rhetorical devices (7)

4.1.1Metapho r (7)

4.1.2Euphemism (7)

4.1.3Irony (8)

4.1.4Metonymy (8)

4.2Phonetic rhetorical devices (8)

4.2.2Alliteration and Rhyme (9)

5Conclusion (9)

Works cited (10)

Remarks on Modern American Slang

Guangdong University of Foreign Studies 2013 Liu Liyu

Tutor: Zhang yan

1Introduction

Expressions that can be called slang make up a major part of American communication in movies, television, radio, newspapers, magazines and informal spoken conversation. This paper looks at the characteristics and the formations of modern American slang. Also, an attempt is made to further discuss the rhetorical features of American slang. In order to have a better communication with American people and a better understanding of the communication, the study of slang is necessary. 2Literature review

Many researchers have studied the characteristics and formations of American slang. In this paper the writer will briefly analyse them and will further discuss the rhetorical devices of Modern American slang. There are many papers have discussed the lexical rhetorical devices of American slang. This paper not only want to mention the lexical rhetorical devices but also the phonetic rhetorical devices of American slang as well.

3Brief analyses of modern American slangs

3.1Definition

Many linguists are trying to define slang. As for the definition of slang, different people may have different ideas. There have been various definitions on slang since its birth. Many of them are very impressive:

“Slang is a language which takes off its coat, rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands—and goes to work” (Carl Sandburg 1878-1967). “Slang is the speech of him who robs the literary garbage cans on their way to the dumps” (Ambrose Bierce，Epigrams p. 358). Also, the definition of slang offered by Wikipedia is “Slang consists of a lexicon of non-standard words and phrases in a given language.”At present, a more acceptable and