Slangs and Jargons

      Slang

“Slang, in standard English,” according to Roberts “does indeed refer to the language characteristic of a group within the society but does not refer to the total language of the group. In fact it is normally restricted to words, phrases, expressions which are novel and initially have a dramatic effect, but because they are fashionable and consequently over-used, either they are soon forgotten or they pass into the general vocabulary of the language. Slang expressions are basically of two types:

1) they are either normal English words which are suddenly used with an unusual meaning or          

 2) everyday meanings or concepts that are captured in a new or concocted word.

Slang expressions are characteristic of teenagers more than any other single group. The current use of the Rasta words and expressions by the general public throughout the West Indies is a good example of slang use.”

Jargon

Lord et al (2012) said jargon terms and expressions specific to a professional group, for example, medical words, computer terminology. Examples of Jargon:

Sometimes people use jargon to appear more important or smarter than others or even to confuse people. This is because jargon is usually associated with the medical or legal profession. It can be used within sports or casual groups as well. The following are some examples of jargon in various groups.

·   In the medical field, “agonal” is a term to signify a major, negative change in a patient’s condition. BP means blood pressure, FX means fracture, and JT is a joint. Nothing by mouth is NPO, intramuscular is IM, and potassium is K.

·    

·   Police jargon would include “suspect” as a person whom the police think may have committed a crime, “10-4” means” OK”, or “got it”, “Code Eight” means an officer needs help immediately, “Code Eleven” means you are on the scene, and “FTP” means failure to pay a fine.·    

 

·   The military has its own jargon, too. TDY is temporary duty, AWOL is absent without leave, SQDN is a squadron, SAM is surface to air missile, PCS is permanent change of station, and LES is leave and earning statement.

Post Creole Continuum

Degrees of dialect

ACROLECT

The variety of speech that is closest to a standard prestige language, especially in an area in which a creole is spoken. For example, Standard Jamaican English is the acrolect where Jamaican Creole is spoken. For example, "I want it."

MESOLECT
A variety of speech that is midway between the acrolect and the basilect (somewhere between Standard English and what some people call the "raw form" of dialect/Creole--the basilect). For example, "Me want it."

BASILECT
The variety of speech that is most remote from the prestige variety, especially in an area where a creole is spoken. This is the "raw" dialect as some people call it. It is the politically and economically weakest dialect becomes the basilect, and often vanishes beneath the pressures of the acrolect.For example, "Me want um."

Jamaican examples 

• "im ah wok oba deh suh" (basilect)
• "im workin ova deh suh" (low mesolect)
• "(H)e (h)is workin' over dere" (high mesolect)
• "He is working over there." (acrolect)