Lexical change with particular reference to slang and its survival

Abstract

A language is an organic entity that grows and evolves continually. This dissertation investigates lexical change in Standard English by examining the use of slang amongst speakers of three distinct English-speaking communities, Irish, Canadian and Maltese. Three dictionaries of English, a dated dictionary of Slang, a dictionary of Standard English, and a recent dictionary of slang were used to trace the history of various slang items used in the exercises described below. Three exercises were formulated and administered to speakers from the three language groups. Patterns of use in speakers' passive and active knowledge of slang were duly noted. The results of a productive exercise in which informants were asked to list synonyms for stupid were compared to results of a similar exercise reported in the literature. Slang items taken from a dictionary of slang were also analysed in an attempt at identifying characteristics of slang likely to act as a catalyst for lexical change in English. The studies carried out continue to highlight the ephemeral and specialized nature of slang often identified as a characteristic of this kind of language. However, it is also clear from this study that adaptation of meaning of already existing items is one of the commonest word formation processes involved in the creation of slang items. It is also clear that a significant, although not very high percentage of slang items, do contribute to change and growth of the vocabulary of English through loss of their slang status as they enter into standard use. Lastly, it seems that, bilingual Maltese speakers of English have slightly less passive as well as active knowledge of slang as compared to their Irish and Canadian counterparts.