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The Moldova State University

Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures



Subject : ,, Slang versus Jargon






Realized by:
Ceban Victoria 224L
Verified by:
Matei Tamara



Chiinu 2014

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Contents

1. Introduction
2. Slang
3. Jargon
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography



















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I ntroduction

Slang and Jargon together are parts of a colloquial vocabulary of English language. Colloquial language
(also known as colloquial speech or informal language) is a variety of language commonly employed in
conversation or other communication in informal situations. Informality increases when the social
distance is little between participants. Colloquial language is distinct from formal speech or formal
writing. It is the variety of language that speakers typically use when they are relaxed and not especially
self-conscious. Slang and Jargon both are very confusing processes in everyday vocabulary usage.
So, first of all I will apply to understand the difference between these too similar words.

Slang
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, slang is defined as An informal vocabulary composed of
invented words, arbitrarily changed words, or extravagant figures of speech. Slang is a compilation of
words that have been labeled as unruly, unrefined, and illogical. The word Slang derived, according
to etymologists, obscurely. The general consensus it that it is related to the standard word sling as
used in archaic expressions such as to sling ones jaw, meaning to speak rowdily or insultingly.
Others believe it to be a derivation from the French word for language, langue.
Slang in Oxford dictionary is:
1)a type of language consisting of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in
speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people. For example in army
slang the grass is slang for marijuana.
2) Words and expressions that are informal and not standard English. Different social groups often use a special
vocabulary. Sometimes this is fairly widespread and well understood. Some slang is confined to small tightly knit
groups who can use it to exclude outsiders. Slang is also often sexual or scatological.
In other words Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the
speaker's language or dialect but are considered acceptable in certain social settings. And it is created by
someone or a group of people have as shared expressions. Slang expressions may act as euphemisms and may
be used as a means of identifying with one's peers. They may be new words or old ones used with a new
meaning. The desire to say old things in a new way leads to slang. When something becomes very common in
our daily life, we are likely to make up new words for it. Slang is a part of every profession, trade, sport, school,
and social group.
Sometimes slang is used in a way that seems to be cruel or unkind, as when a person is called a jerk. Most slang
is limited to certain areas. But some words, such as okay, are carried around the world by newspapers, radio,
television, motion pictures, and tourists. Slang is popular because it is catchy and timely. Most slang has a very
short life. It meets a momentary need or expresses a temporary opinion. Yet some words now considered
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standard began as slang. These include words such as taxi, flapjack, hoax, bogus, skyscraper, and fan (from
fanatic).Slang often involves the creation of new meanings for existing words. It is common for such novel
meanings to diverge significantly from the standard meaning. Thus, "cool" and "hot" can both mean "very
good," "impressive," or "good-looking".
Slang terms are often known only within a clique or in-group. For example, Leet ("Leetspeak" or "1337") was
originally popular only among certain Internet subcultures, such as crackers and online video gamers. During the
1990s, and into the early 21st century, however, Leet became increasingly more commonplace on the Internet,
and it has spread outside Internet-based communication and into spoken languages.
Other types of slang include SMS language used on mobile phones, and "chatspeak," (e.g., "LOL", an acronym
meaning "laughing out loud" or "laugh out loud" or ROFL, "rolling on the floor laughing"), which used to be
widely used in instant messaging on the Internet in the early 2000s.
Slang is invented the same way formal language is. Its basis is usually metaphor. A metaphor is a word or phrase
that ordinarily means one thing but is used for another thing to suggest a likeness between the two.
Money, for example, is called bacon, loot, dough, bucks, and bread.
Ones home is referred to as a pad, shack, dump, diggings, or hole in the wall.
Failure is referred to as blowing it, hitting a foul ball, flunking, or running into a stone wall.
To be discharged from a job is to be sacked, bounced, fired, or axed.
People often object to slang. They feel it is impolite or weakens a persons vocabulary. Yet slang can enliven
speech and writing when used appropriately. A command over language involves the power to make up new
expressions or use old expressions for new purposes.
We can find out a big list of slang.
For example in American slang there are:
Ace-with meaning very good(He's an ace reporter)
Bad- means intense(Wow, that was really a bad movie.)
Beemer-means B.M.W car(He just bought a new beemer to drive to work in.)
Blow-means leave(I am going to blow out of here now)
Fox-attractive person(His older sister is a fox) e.t.c
Also in British English there are:
Adam and Eva means to belive(Ido not Adam and Eva in it.);
afty -means Afternoon. (Are you going to watch the game this afty?);
Article-means an objectionable person (Come on, go and tidy your bedroom you lazy article);
antwacky -means old fashioned. Possibly from antique(y) or antiquated. (Oh no way! I'm not wearing
those shoes, they're so antwacky.);
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J argon
In a Oxford dictionary it is defined as :
the language, especially the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group:
medical jargon.
unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing; gibberish.
any talk or writing that one does not understand.
language that is characterized by uncommon or pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax
and is often vague in meaning.
Jargon is a term that is used to describe a set of words that have a specific meaning in a specific context.
Jargon, the terminology of a science, technology, art, profession, trade, or craft. The term has also come
to mean the officialese of government. (Jargon is originally an Old French word meaning warbling
of birds.)
The philosophe Condillac observed in 1782 that:
"Every science requires a special language because every science has its own ideas."
As a rationalist member of the Enlightenment he continued:
"It seems that one ought to begin by composing this language, but people begin by speaking and writing,
and the language remains to be composed.
In earlier times, the term jargon would refer to trade languages used by people who spoke different
native tongues to communicate. In other words, the term covers the language used by people who work
in a particular area or who have a common interest. Much like slang, it can develop as a kind of
shorthand, to express ideas that are frequently discussed between members of a group, though it can also
be developed deliberately using chosen terms.
In Britain, government jargon is called Whitehallese;
In the United States, Federal prose or gobbledygook (from the gobbling noise of the turkey cock).
Jargon may be defined as a cod within a code, that is special meanings of words that are imposed on the
recognized code-the dictionary meaning of the words. Jargon is commonly used by groups that have a
similar interest, like trades and/or professions. However, it can be used by people involved in sports or
other casual groups. Most people associate jargon with the medical or law professions rather than
everyday conversations. People may use jargon to leave an impression of intelligence or to confuse a
person.

Examples of Medical Jargon:
BP - Medical shorthand for blood pressure
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FX - Medical jargon meaning bone fracture
IM - Intramuscular
K - The elemental symbol for potassium
Examples of Military Jargon:
TD - Temporary duty
AWOL - Absent without leave
SAM - Surface-to-Air missile
PCS - A permanent change of station
LES - Leave and earning statement
Examples of Internet Jargon:
CYA - See you around
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
HTH - Hope this helps
MOTD - Message of the day
IIRC - If I remember correctly
BFF - Best friends forever
TTYL - Talk to you later
A word can be both slang and jargon as is seen in the use of the word say. The word say is not
slang unless it is used at the beginning of a sentence as in tell me. For example, the following uses of
the word say are considered slang:
Say, how much does that cost?
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawns early light.
Jargon, on the other hand, is technical talk. As stated earlier, it may be used as a barrier to keep
outsiders from understanding something, but not always. An example of how close slang and jargon are
may be seen in the use of the following medical terms:
Bilateral probital hematoma (JARGON)
A black eye, or shiner (SLANG)


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Conclusion
In conclusion I can say that slang is used to escape the dull familiarity of standard words, it suggest to
escape from the established routine of everyday life. Also people use slang in order to sound modern
and up-to-date.
But unfortunately jargon which is created to promote secrecy and keep outsiders in the dark it lost its
special quality because it belongs to all social groups and it is easily understood by most of people.
So it is hard to draw a line between slang and jargon because when jargons becomes common it has
passed on a higher step on a ladder of word groups and becomes slang or colloquial. That is why a lot of
words can be confused.










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Bibliography


Green, Jonathan. The Dictionary of Jargon. Routledge & Kegan paul, Inc.:New
York, NY. 1987
Patridge, Eric Slang To-day and Yesterday. London, 1979
http://www2.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/1914-/language/jargon.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org