HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY
CODE: 29
FACULTY OF ENGLISH

GRADUATION THESIS
B.A DEGREE IN ENGLISH STUDIES

A STUDY ON USAGES OF SLANG IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Supervisor:

MA. Pham Thi Bich Diep

Student:

Dang Vu Tuan Phong

Date of birth: 12/26/1994
Course:

1271A05 (2012-2016)

HANOI, 2016


DECLARATION
Title: “A study on usages of slang in English language”

I certify that no part of the above report has been copied or reproduced by me
from any other’s work without acknowledgement and that the report is originally
written by me under strict guidance of my supervisor.

2. Aims and purposes of the study…………………………………...02
3. Scope of the study…………………………………………………..02
4. Research questions…………………………………………………02
5. Methods of the study……………………………………………….03
6. Design of the study…………………………………………………03

PART B: DEVELOPMENT…………………………………….04
CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW………………………………..04
1.1.

Definition of slang………………………………………………04

1.2.

History of slang…………………………………………………08

1.3.

Classification of slang…………………………………………..10

CHAPTER 2: FINDINGS, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS….17
2.1.

Slang in language and culture………………………………….17

2.1.1. Slang in British culture……………………………………...20
2.1.2. Slang in American culture…………………………………..24
2.2.

Influences of slang on the English language…………………..28

However, the road to success in studying English is very challenging and
requires a good amount of one’s time and diligence, particularly knowledge and
practices. In practice specifically, it is very easy to make several mistakes in
conversations with foreigners and the main reason for that are usually because of
the lack of knowledge we have towards their life and culture. Another factor can
be our limited knowledge on their slangs, which are used frequently in their daily
lives.
Just like how we have slangs in Vietnamese, it is only natural that slangs also
exist in other languages. They are used in almost every field of work and other
forms of communication. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the uses of
slang in the English language, which is why I have chosen this as my thesis
topic.
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2. Aims and purposes of the study
This study aims to help learners understand more about the characteristics and
usages of slang in English in order to become more fluently in English
conversations, while at the same time obtain knowledge about the British and
American culture.

3. Scope of the study
The study focuses on the general information on slang and the different uses and
applications of slang in the English language, particularly in specific fields and
situations in daily lives.



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PART B: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW

1.1. Definition of slang
It is becoming more common for people – especially adults – to have a grasp on
words or expressions that transgress generally accepted norms of formality, or to
be precise, what are not normally considered as “good language”. As such, the
way slang is defined can be varied from one person to another. Michael Adams
(Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1988) remarks that "Slang is liminal language...
it is often impossible to tell, even in context, which interests and motives it
serves... Slang is on the edge."
The "New Oxford English Dictionary" defines slang as follows:
a) the special vocabulary used by any set of persons of a low or
disreputable character; language of a low and vulgar type;
b) the cant or jargon of a certain class or period;
c) language of a highly colloquial type considered as below the level of
standard educated speech, and consisting either of new words or of current
words employed in some special sense.

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as appealing or unappealing, dull or colorful in its standard as in its slang use.
Also, the meanings of beans and money, head and attic, pot and marijuana are
the same, so it cannot be said that the connotations of slang words are any more
colorful or racy than the meanings of standard words.
Slang is not used by the majority of native speakers and many people consider it
vulgar, though quite a few slang phrases have already come into standard usage.
Slang contains many obscene and offensive words and phrases. It also has many
expressions that are acceptable in informal communication. Slang is highly
idiomatic. It is flippant, irreverent, indecorous; it may be indecent or obscene. Its
colorful metaphors are generally directed at respectability, and it is this succinct,
sometimes witty, frequently impertinent social criticism that gives slang its
characteristic flavor.
Slang is very dynamic, it is ever changing to fit in with the demands and
popularity of the mass, it can become either more or less acceptable. Some slang
words have existed for a very long time, e.g In your face!, meaning that this
person has successfully embarrassed, or won over someone in a specific way.
Another would be That’s sick!, used to describe something that the person finds
to be unusual, it could be that they feel excited, amused, unbelievable or even
gross, disgusted.
The two examples above are slangs that originated from the 70s, and are
continued to be used frequently among English speakers even now. On the other
hand there are also countless slangs that have gained extreme popularity after
appearing just in the last few years. E.g Turnt up, which implies that someone is
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There has been many debates revolve around the term “slang”, its origins and
linguistic relevance due to its ambiguous nature. It is agreed upon by most
linguists and lexicographers that the origin of the word is “unknown” or
“uncertain”. There were, however, a few exceptions such as Skeat, a
lexicographer, who claims that the word “slang” comes from Scandinavian and
is a derivation of Icelandic slyngva, which was meant to be used as insulting
words. Another view considers slang to be a Gipsy term for the English’s secret
language rather than actual English itself. On the other hand, some said that it
was derived from French.
Slang has appeared even before it received its official name right now.
According to Swift, slang is as old as speech, and traces of this may be found as
far as we refer back, and that slang of the old days contained more “vulgarity”
than our modern slang. It is important to underline that the term “slang” was
firstly recognized by Grose in 1785. He defined it as “cant or vulgar language”.

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The present-day meaning for slang began to form only in the 16th or 17th century,
where it started with English criminal cant. It was a new figure of speech that
was to be used among criminals, mostly in gambling houses and for illegal
exchange. According to researcher Winona Bullard, English criminal cant was,
at first, thought to be originated from foreign countries, particularly Romania or
France. It is unknown whether source was correct, however, English criminal
cant was slowly developing and became more widely used even among other
groups of people, especially in the 1700s where the cultural differences in the US
started to influence the English language. By the beginning of the 19th century,

seriousness, to ease social exchanges and reduce friendliness. For example, we
will often hear the Americans refer to their currency as “bucks” instead of
“dollar”, or how the word “cool” can replace a variety of words like “good”,
“amazing”, “wonderful”, “interesting” and other words with similar meaning.
We also hear English speakers use the word “ya” to replace “yes”, “you” and
“your”, e.g.:
- Ya, I get it!
- You’d better take care of ya kid carefully!
Special slang, on the other hand, comes into play when the speakers want to
show their “proof”, that they belong to a certain group or when they want to
establish solidarity and/or intimacy with the other group members. Another way
to put it, as Eble (C. Slang and Sociability, 1996) quoted: “It is often used by
speakers to create their own identity, including aspects such as social status and
geographical belonging, or even age, education, occupation, lifestyle, and special
interests. It is largely used by people of a common age and experience to
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strengthen the bonds within their own peer group, keeping the older generation
at a distance”. Some of the commonly seen types of special slang are as
following:
a) Cockney rhyming slang
Cockney rhyming slang originated in the East End of London. It is a form of
slang where one word is replaced by a rhyming word, usually a two-word phrase
in which the second word is the rhyming word. The second word is then dropped
entirely. For example the word “look” rhymes with “butcher’s hook”, in many

Honey bees

Kid

Teapod lid

Navy

Peas and gravy

Feel

Orange peel
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Feet

Plates of meat

Dice

Rats and mice

b) Polari
Polari is a form of cant slang used in Britain by actors, circus and fairground


aunt nelly fakes

Earrings

aunt nell danglers

Earrings

barney

a fight

batts

Shoes

bibi

Bisexual

bijou

small/little (means "jewel" in French)
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BRB

Just kidding

JK

By the way

BTW

Okay

K

Thank you

TY

Rolling on floor laughing

ROFL

Laugh out loud

LOL

For your information

FYI


Oh my god

OMG

I don’t know

Idk

What is up

Sup

To be honest

TBH

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

Fixed that for you

FTFY

My feel when

MFW

In my opinion

lot of them are rooted in various London communities, which for different
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reasons liked to use language only known in their own circles, notably wholesale
markets, street traders, crime and the underworld, the docks, taxi-cab driving,
and the immigrant communities.
In the UK, cash has been referred to as “dosh” since at least 1953 due to the
word “dosh” being a Russian-Jewish prefix referring to the nose, which can be
equated to the term “paying through the nose” (pay with ready money). The
related term "cash on the nail" is said to refer to 17th century trading stands in
Bristol and elsewhere, over which deals were done and cash changed hands.
Prior to their abandonment, the one pound note was occasionally referred to as a
"Sheet" and thus the ten shilling note as a "Half Sheet". More commonly the ten
shilling note was a "ten bob note" or, in London, "half a bar". "As bent as a nine
bob note" is or was common colloquial phrase used to describe something or
someone crooked or counterfeit.
£5 is called a "fiver". £20 is often referred to as a "score". £100 is commonly
referred to as a "ton" e.g. £400 would be called 4 ton. £1000 is commonly
referred to as a "bag" (from the Rhyming Slang "Bag of Sand") e.g. £4000 would
be called 4 bags.
Folding/folding stuff/folding money/folding green = banknotes, especially to
differentiate or emphasise an amount of money as would be impractical to carry
or pay in coins, typically for a night out or to settle a bill. Folding, folding stuff
and folding money are all popular slang in London.


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 humour. (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



death or madness, or to mask the ugliness or the pity of profound turpitude (e.g.
treachery, ingratitude); and/or thus to enable the speaker or his auditor or both to
endure, to 'carry on'.
12)

To speak or write down to an inferior, or to amuse a superior public;

or merely to be on a colloquial level with either one's audience or one's subject
matter.
13)

For ease of social intercourse. (Not to be confused or merged with the

preceding.)
14)

To induce either friendliness or intimacy of a deep or a durable kind.

(Same remark.)
15)

To show that one belongs to a certain school, trade, or profession,

artistic or intellectual set, or social class; in brief, to be 'in the swim' or to
establish contact.
16)

Hence, to show or prove that someone is not 'in the swim'.


professional group, he will blend with the group members from mentality. That
is to say, if a student says a sentence containing the special college slang, he
must want to get the result of showing and strengthening the emotion that he is
belonging to the inside of the teenager group.

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2.1.1.

Slang in British culture

British people usually use slang with the purpose of creating convenience, easing
communication, to create a sense of freshness, originality and friendly
informality between one another. To look closely on the culture of slang in this
country, here are some particular examples:
• Aggro – short for “aggravation”, used to describe someone with an
attitude of unusual aggressiveness and competitiveness, usually in
football. Can also be used against an extremely aggressive individual who
is “trying to pick a fight”. “What’s with that guy pulling off an agro over
there? It’s just a casual match.” or “You’re pulling aggro from them,
better back out quick before they kill you”.
• Anti-clockwise – the opposite from “clockwise”. This is, in most cases,
referred to as “counter-clockwise” instead in other countries. At the same
time it can be used to refer to something extraordinary, which goes against
the norm, like “being left-handed”. For example: