Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Style and Register - Language Varieties: Slang and Jargon


Brief Definition of Style According to Janet Holmes
  • Style is language variation which reflects changes in situational factors, such as addressee, setting, task or topic.
  • Style is often analyzed along a scale of formality.
  • The level of formality is influenced by some factors like the various differences among the participants, topic, emotional involvement, etc.
Addressee as an Influence on Style
          Age of addressee è People generally talk to the very young and to the very old è For example: Baby-talk
          Social background of addressee è People talk differently to the higher class and to the lower class è For example: The pronunciation of newsreaders on different radio station 
(Janet Holmes, 2001)
Some Examples of Context, Style and Class
          Formal contexts and social roles
          Different style within an interview
          Colloquial style or the vernacular
          The interaction of social class and style
Brief Explanations of Register According to Janet Holmes
l  Registers are specific sets of vocabulary items associated with different occupational group or the language of groups of people with common interests or jobs.
l  For example: the language used by airplane pilots, surgeons, bank managers, jazz fans, commentators, etc.
Short Definition of Slang According to Contemporary Linguistics 1997
          Slang is a label that is frequently used to denote certain informal or faddish usages of nearly anyone in the speech community
          Slang is special vocabulary used by any set of persons of a low or disreputable character; language of a low and vulgar type (Oxford Dictionary).
          Nowadays, slang is often applied to aspects of the language of adolescents or others who are perceived as speaking non-standard varieties of the language.
          Slang exist alongside jargon and argot
          The use of slang plays a major role in the maintenance of the gang’s group identity.
          It separates the in-group, who use the slang, from the rest of society who do not and are not part of the gang.
          For example: Glasgow slang, American university (UCLA) slang, etc.
          Slang is area of vocabulary which reflects a person’s age.
          Current slang is the linguistic prerogative of young people and generally sounds odd in the mouth of an older person.
          It signals membership of a particular group – the young.
          For example: spiffing, topping, super, groovy, fab, etc.

The Examples of Glasgow Slang


Jargon and Argot Based on Contemporary Linguistics, 1997
          It is a label for speech varieties associated with social groups whose members wish or must conceal themselves or some aspects of their communication from non-members.
          Jargon or argot is restricted to a smaller number and is more obscure to outsiders than slang.
          It is a label for speech varieties associated with social groups whose members wish or must conceal themselves or some aspects of their communication from non-members.
          Jargon or argot is restricted to a smaller number and is more obscure to outsiders than slang.
The Examples of Jargon and Argot
          Cockney rhyming slang è English argot used among navies in London’s East End in the 19th century (bees & honey è money, merry-go-round èpound sterling)
          Gay lingo è used among homosexual co.
          Hacker jargon (freeware, happiware, etc.)
          Cyberspace jargon (www, mailing list, e-mail, etc.).
Reference: Contemporary Linguistics, 1997: 558-561