Fall 2004

E 376L • Slang: Nature and Social Function

Course Description

This course explores slang as a healthy phenomenon. It begins with attempts to define slang, followed by a brief look at the history of studying slang. It explores the various methods employed to create slang and examines how and why people use slang rather than more conventional English. It studies several corpora of slang collected at different times and different locales to learn about the spread, evolution, and life span of slang items. Students will also collect and edit slang items.

Grading Policy

Exercises 20%
Slang collection 25%
Editing the collected items 25%
Paper 25%
Class performance 5%

Texts

Chapman, Robert, Dictionary of American Slang, 3rd. Ed. New York: HarperResource, 1998
Eble, Connie, Slang and Sociability, Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1996
Munro, Pamela, Slang U, New York: Three Rivers Press, 1991
Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, New York: Random House, 2000

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