Michael Rosen Slang Word of Mouth Episode

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06wd268

Slang used throughout history, as far back as Shakespeare.
Shakespeare invented many words for his plays.
Each generation tends to develop its own slang.
'Great' became widely used in 1960s {Older generation used 'Super'}
Slang: counter language of the counter culture.
Slang vocab: 70% is twisted English words.
21 different uses of 'Dog'
Bad language in the ear of the beholder
Slang has a bad representation (16th century; associated with 'bad people')
Slang is still not strictly acceptable.
Criminals have their own slang.
Slang use not published until 1756 {late}
Slang surrounding women almost always negative or misogynistic.
Slang like 'fat, thin, ugly' used to relate to men.
Slang does not do abstract.
No slang word for 'love'
Slang represents us as our most human,
White working class generated language
Some female singers have their own slang {i.e Memphis Minnie 'Back door man'}
Female use of social media generating even more language.
FLASH: [A style of slang] originated 19th century coffee house
Coinage
VAT: Vodka and Tonic
Popular TV shows can bring slang to wider use
RAF slang: Prang [Onomatopoeic word]
RAF: Blightey
Standard English is a slowly developing language.
Slang starts in the gutter?
Booze: Oldest slang word {In all dictionaries since 1530}
Booze has moved from slang to colloquial
Slang vs Jargon?
Biggest use of Jargon: Drug users.
Naval Jargon
Yob: Mid 19th Century
Yiddish words can be used as English slang.
Been fluent at swearing is a sign of 'healthy verbal ability'
Colorful slang is NOT an indication of inarticulacy
To be able to use slang well (coin/create) requires creativity
Peter Capaldis character in 'In the thick of it' is very articulate in swearing.
Different social classes/groups use slang and swearing differently.

Framework/Linguistic method	Description
Lexis	Word-choice. Meaning at word and phrase level.
Grammar	How language is built i.e the structure and rules that underpin how we form sentences
Phonology	How we organise the sounds of our language to produce certain effects including rhythm, rhyme, intonation, stress, pauses, etc.
Pragmatics	How we know what language means when it is used in a specific context, sometimes described as reading between the lines.
Discourse	1)      How longer stretches of text are organised (cohesion – how it holds together e.g. use of discourse markers) 2)      The way texts create identities for particular individuals, groups or institutions e.g. the discourse of law, politics, and the media.
Graphology	How the design of a text can contribute to meaning including use of fonts, graphics, colours etc.