Comparing linguistic and folk linguistic definitions of American slang

Linguistic and Folkloric Definitions of Slang

Slang is often defined as an informal classification of language spoken by members of a particular group. It is casual and informal, and often changes quite rapidly, compared with standard vocabulary, or even dialect. Slang is vernacular (of the 'folk') and/or colloquial speech. It can be used to convey the speaker's membership in a particular group (Akmajan 2001, p. 302). For example, for a non-native speaker of English, the words '411' might be a number, for an English speaker '411' refers to dialing for information, and for a teenager fluent in slang, getting the '411' means finding out gossip or the information about someone or something. Slang can also refer to turns of phrase, like adding city to refer to a large quantity -- like 'fat city' and 'charm city' (Akmajan 2001, p. 305).

Folkloric slang or speech refers specifically to colloquialisms in dialect: such as linguistic terms or meanings that require a regional accent to be fully conveyed as in "Hyde Pork / "Hyde Park or warsh/wash (Folklife, 2009, Teaching students). Folkloric slang can also encompass "local terms, specialized language, and other elements that make up the distinctive speech patterns of a region, folk group, or occupation" that are commonly known within that subgroup but not outside of it (Folklife, 2009, Teaching students). Unlike pure slang, folkloric words tend to be less mutable and plastic in use and structure, and may last for years within the region.