British Slang Effect On English Language

In this paper the author will be writing the findings of his research on the Effect of British slang on the English language. The first section of the paper will focus on the origin of British slang and the reasons that it was introduced into the English language. It will then go on to look at the influence that technology has had on British slang. The last subject will look at the effect that slang has had on the English language. The author will then conclude with a section on what impact slang will have on the future of the English language.

Keywords: Language, English, British, slang, influence, effect

The Effect of slang on the English language

The records show slang was first used around the 16th Century, but this is not certain, as it

This brought new cultures and languages into society. West Indians were one group of people who created new words to describe something that mainstream society did not already have a word for. They merged words from their language with English language to invent a new slang word.

Impact of technology on slang

In the last 20 years slang has grown in popularity, especially amongst the younger generation. To the older generation slang might seem inappropriate or like they are listening to another language. However, for many people today slang is a part of our culture. A factor of this is due to the use of technology, including Mobile phones, Internet, T.V and Movies. “Language itself changes slowly but the internet has speeded up the process of those changes so you notice them more quickly”. (D.Crystal, 2010)

Text speak and the use of acronyms have also increased in recent years. This may be due to mobile phone use, as it is quicker to write these forms. Also text messages and social networks such as Twitter have a maximum number count when sending a message and this may make people shorten words to fit in with these requirements. In a survey taken by teachers, 2 in 3 said that they regularly find text in children’s

An example of this is the word “Bling” which started to be used by West Indians and U.S rap stars as slang for jewellery, but after a while came into mainstream use in Britain. When the word entered the Oxford English Dictionary and was no longer classed as slang, the people who created the word stopped using it as it was no longer deemed “cool”. "That 's typical of slang - it happens with internet slang as well. Many terms, phrases and words that are used in slang often become meaningful in the casual form of speech". (D.Daniels, 2005)

Effect slang has had on the English language

When people use slang as a form of communication, it broadens the English language by adding more words. Language doesn’t stay still, and a language such as English reinvents many words from different languages, such as Greek and Latin. As the population grows, and societies change, so do the words in the language.

Many people think it is too early to see the full impact technology is having on the English language. “The whole phenomenon is very recent- the entire technology we’re talking about is only 20 years old as far as the popular mind is concerned”.