社会语言学论文

社会语言学论文 从会学国社语言角度美俚语 ,1Definitions of slangs ,2Characteristics of American slangs ,3Social analysis of slangs from the perspective of gender, age, occupation and social settings to use slang ,4Social functions of slang ,5Social reasons for the use of slang 1.Introduction To study slang scientifically,we can take the anthropological tradition of cultural relativism.“According to Bryjak and Soroka (1994:57),‘cultural relativism is the belief that there is no universal standard of good and bad or right and wrong and that an aspect of any given culture can be judged only within its own context.’Cultural relativists appear to suggest that all cultures or institutions are equally valid or fitting and tend to assume that the mere presence of a cultural trait warrants our valuing it”(Lin Dajing,1997). 俚语作语语言的一语～引起特殊性语语着自己特的作用～然而多人独很 并确很笔未语俚语有正的语语～多人把俚语作语地俗语语待～者语语～语言作 语一语社语象～尤其存在的合理性～社语言的角度语～任何语会从会学 言语语都是平等的～有语语之分。本文社语言的角度语俚语语没将从会学 一语言特殊语象做一粗分析～希望能是大家改语语俚语的语语度。俚浅歧 语常被定语语粗俗的语言～语语语言有其特定的使用群～语然使用者大体 多语知语水平不高的人群～但不能因此就语此语言有语低～正是基于 此语点～本文语行了如下分析。 2.Definition of slang 2.1 definitions During the history of language development, people’s attitudes toward slang have changed a lot. In 1828 Webster defined it as “low, vulgar, unmeaning language.” Slang is very informal language that includes new and something not polite words and meanings and is often used among particular groups of people, and is usually not used in serious speech or wring (Longman dictionary of English Language and Culture 2004). Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary defines slang as “very informal words, phrases, etc commonly used in speech, esp between people from the same social group or who work together, not considered suitable for formal contexts and often not in use for long.” From these three definitions, we can see that in the past slang suffered abuse from people and nowadays this discrimination has disappeared and is regarded as informal and highly colloquial language. 2.2attitudes Slang is acknowledged to be one of the most active and sensitive parts of language and an effective weapon in communication. However, the attitudes toward slang are very contradictory among common people and especially scholars. This can be detected from the above three definitions (qtd.in Partridge 1954:7,3) can also reflects the contradiction of of slang. people’s opinions: “The language of slang is the conversation of fools. Men of discretion will not pervert language to the unprofitable purposes of conversational mimicry…The friends of literature will never adopt it, as it is actively opposed to pure and grammatical diction” and “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.” These remarks remarks sum up the paradox of slang very well: “Slang is the foe and the friend of the English language”(qtd.in Partridge 1954:21). 2.3sociallinguistic approach to slang as we have mentioned, slang a important component of language, and as language, it, in itself, can not be evaluated as right or wrong. It is just a social phenomenon reflected in language, so we should take an objective attitude to analyze it. This paper will do it from the perspective of sociolinguistics, because sociolinguistics is that part of linguistics which is concerned with language as a social and cultural phenomenon”(Trudgill:1983). Therefore, the study of language can not be separated from society and culture. 2.4Characteristics of slang American slang, as the product of American society, has its distinctive 语士～characteristics. According to there are four distinct features which is rooted in American society, that is its brevity, novelty, instability and plural synonym. 2.4.1Brevity ～Just as Flexner(1975) remarksbrevity may not be the soul of American slang, but it is perhaps the chief feature. The American Dictionary of Slang also demonstrates that slang seems to prefer short words. This is usually attained by the substitution of simple syllables to express the meaning of a longer word or expression. Simp (stupid person), veep (vice president) and classy (fashionable) are brief and easy to speak out. What’s more, some slangs can briefly express the meaning which can not be done by one standard usage such as doodle (scribble absent-mindedly) and frisk (make a body search—especially refers to patting or touching someone’s pockets or places where something can be hidden and carried about). 2.4.2 Novelty Slang words are often invented by people for the pleasure of novelty and imitated by others who like to be in fashion. For example, they use think-machine for brain, sparkler for diamond and flying coffin for plane. 2.4.3Instability Instability is another distinct feature of slangs. Unlike other kinds of language, slang words usually do not remain for many years, though some slangs change into standard language after some time. Gay, for instance, started its life in the sense “ homosexual” in the 1930s, and nowadays is broadly accepted as standard terminology. 2.4.4rich synonyms American slang is characteristic of a wealth of synonyms, which has a close connection with the pursuit of novelty. Take money for example, there are such expressions for money as brass, lolly, tin, dough, mazuma, moolah and bread. 3.Social analysis of slangs from the perspective of gender, age, occupation and social settings to use slang Slangs are not only different from other kinds of languages in its characteristics but also has specific features in the slang-users. This part will explain this from the perspectives of the users’ age, gender and occupation. 3.1 gender Most American slang is created and used by males. De Klerk (1990, 1992) also found that the gender difference in use and tolerance of slang was leveling out in contemporary society and that the stereotype of makes being the primary slang users was open to question (qtd. In Thomas. C. Cooper. 2001). Many types of slang words ---including the taboo and strongly derogatory ones, those referring to women, work, money, whiskey, politics, transportation, sports and the like---refer primarily to male endeavor and interest. The majority of entries in all slang dictionaries could be labeled “primarily masculine use” (Flexner, 1960: xxiv). 3.2 Age Age also influences the use of slangs. American youths, especially the teenagers and college students, are the main consumers and makers of American slangs. They are not afraid of making mistakes, and full of curiosity. They are always ready to challenge traditional conventions and customs. Therefore, many fashionable slangs are created and wide spread by these young people. 3.3 Occupation Slangs also have something to do with one’s occupation. Generally speaking, the higher education required for the occupation, the lower tolerance will be for slang. 4.social reasons of slang Niceforo provided the following fifteen reasons for using slang. Slang, he believes, is employed because of one or more of these reasons. ( qtd. in Partridge 1954:6-7): (1) In sheer high spirits, by the young in heart as well as by the young in years; “just for the fun of the thing”; in playfulness or waggishness.(2) As an exercise either in wit and ingenuity or in humor. (The motive behind this is usually self-display or snobbishness, emulation or responsiveness, delight in virtuosity.) (3) To be “different” to be novel. (4) To be picturesque (either positively or--as in the wish to avoid insipidity--negatively). (5) To be unmistakably arresting, even startling. (6) To escape from cliches, or to be brief and concise. (Actuated by impatience with existing terms.) 　(7) To enrich the language. (This deliberateness is rare save among the well-educated, Cockneys forming the most notable exception; it is literary rather than spontaneous.) (8) To lend an air of solidity, concreteness, to the abstract; ofearthiness to the idealistic; of immediacy and appositeness tothe remote. (9) To lessen the sting of, or on the other hand to giveadditional point to, a refusal, a rejection, a recantation. Toreduce, perhaps also to disperse, the solemnity, the pomposity,the excessive seriousness of a conversation. To soften thetragedy, to lighten or to “prettify” the inevitability of death ormadness, or to mask the ugliness or the pity of profoundturpitude (e.g., treachery, ingratitude);and/or thus to enablethe speaker or his auditor or both to endure, to “carry on”.(10)To speak or write down to an inferior, or to amuse asuperior public; or merely to be on a colloquial level with eitherone’s audience or one’s subject matter. (11) For ease of social intercourse. (12) To induce either friendliness or intimacy of a deep or adurable kind. 　(13) To show that one belongs to a certain school, trade, orprofession, artistic or intellectual set, or social class; in brief, tobe “in the swim” or to establish contact. (14) Hence, to show or prove that someone is not “in the swim”.(15) To be secret-not understood by those around one. Of course, lists of functions of slang can not be exhausted. Thereare other aspects arresting and outlandish about slang. But it does notmean that users can apply it to any person on any occasion. Slang islike casual dress, which is only suitable to certain occasions.5.social functions of slangs Main social functions of slangs can be summarized as followed:5.1 for prestige and superiority From the point of view of the slang users, the slang words are not low and vulgar but bring them kind of prestige. Therefore, to some extent, what kind of slangs are used becomes kind of reflection of the user’s cultural values. In daily life, people