Slang is informal language that is unique and often humorous, vulgar, or shocking. It begins as group-specific argot and can spread across regions or classes. Learning to use slang correctly can be difficult but helpful in adapting to native speakers.
Slang is casual spoken language that differs from dialectical speech and slang as well as formal speech. Some linguists think of it as the splash of color in a language, as it is often unique, unusual, and sometimes surprising. As a general rule, slang is not used in formal spoken language or in writing, unless the speaker is seeking deliberate effect. Some slang terms, however, leap into accepted common usage, such as “OK.”
Often, slang begins as group-specific argot, which is related to slang. Unlike slang, however, argot is not a collection of technical terms used within a group with limited external understanding. Instead, it is used to differentiate members of a group from others and to foster a sense of collective belonging in the group. Additionally, it can provide a way to talk about questionable or illegal activity without being obvious. As argot begins to spread from small subgroups to the rest of a group of speakers, it becomes slang.
Typically, slang is humorous, vulgar, or shocking. It is designed to make speech more casual and playful and may not always be suitable for polite company. Many terms are related to human sexuality, for example, and the jargon can get quite graphic. The terms are also usually short-lived, rarely even existing long enough to enter the dictionary. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule; English speakers have been saying “beat it” for centuries, for example.
Generally, slang spreads through a group of people and can spread across an entire region or class. Even people who are not in that group may pick up on the terminology, causing usage to spread, or the words may remain isolated in a smaller subgroup. College students, for example, often develop complex slang terms, with words from different regions spreading across a college campus. When these students leave, they bring these terms to other young people in various parts of the world, often making the discourse of the younger generation incomprehensible to those on the outside.
Learning to use slang correctly can be very difficult. Many new language learners struggle with casual language and idioms because the terms are often nonsensical and difficult to understand. If someone can master this aspect of a language, however, they can adapt much more effectively to native speakers.
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