A special ESL lesson

ENGLISH SLANG
By Patryk Pałys

PART I
INtroduction

I. Read the definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary and discuss them.

SLANG
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.

REGISTER
A variety of a language or a level of usage, as determined by degree of formality and choice
of vocabulary, pronunciation, and syntax, according to the communicative purpose, social
context, and standing of the user.

II. In a language, various meanings or concepts can be expressed by different

words. In spite of having theoretically the same meaning, they can be
perceived differently. Compare the verbs and their registers below:

Formal: to procreate
Neutral (standard): to inseminate
Informal: to knock (somebody) up
Slang: to get up the duff
Literary: to beget
Old-fashioned: to get somebody with child
 PART II
SLANG VOCABULARY

I. Study the lists of words and translate the sentences below from Standard
English to slang.
a) I need more money to buy some awesome shoes.
b) Don’t behave like a weird person – be yourself!
c) I find that guy attractive, but he’ll never be my boyfriend; he’s just a friend.
d) I have to work today but I need to relax, so it makes me very annoyed.
e) That man is crazy, because he’s addicted to drugs.
f) Peter is disappointed with his new job and often complains about it; he’s going to
abandon it soon.
g) Jack isn’t a cowardly person; he’s got courage.
h) I need 2000 dollars to buy some alcohol for the party tomorrow; you only live once!
i) We need to spend more time together because it’s really cool, right?
II. Watch the video about two people comparing British and American slang. Had
you known any words that were mentioned by the speakers?

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5OFhfdvrzk

III. Abbreviations are frequently used in spoken English. Some of them are used in
everyday speech, others are used in specific contexts only. Say one sentence
with each informal word.

STANDARD ENGLISH INFORMAL ENGLISH

because coz / cus / cos / cuz / ‘cause
going to gonna / gon’
want to wanna
have got to gotta / gotsta
out of outta
sort of sorta
kind of kinda
ought to oughta
have to hafta
a lot of / lots of lotta / lotsa
trying to tryna / trynna
I’m going to imma / i’mma
give me gimmie
let me lemmie
need to needa
don’t know dunno
what do you…? / what are you/…? whaddya / whatcha
what are you…? watcha
what do we call it? whatchamacallit?
what’s up? wassup / whassup / sup / tsup /
whaddup
bet you betcha
cup of cuppa
come on c’mon