In a word, previous scholars have laid a solid foundation for later studies by contributing greatly to the scientific and systemic study on English slang。 Making a study on American slang from sociolinguistic perspective is this paper’s attempt。 And it adopts the descriptive approach to analyze American slang。 The first part of this thesis mainly demonstrates the standing features of American slang。 The following two parts focus on the inpidual and social elements that influence American slang。 The last part of this thesis dwells on the social function of American slang, that is, why people use slang and what functions slang plays in social activities。 

2。 Features of American slang

What is it exactly that differentiates slang from standard vocabulary? Considering most slang terms are old words given additional new meanings, slang can not easily be distinguished on the basis of its formal or grammatical features。论文网

2。1 Humor

2。1。1  Phonetic Humor

A large amount of American slang achieves the result of easy understanding and remembering, pleasing to the ear and forcefulness with the help of euphony。 Rhyme is especially used to compass the objects of vividness and humorous effect。 There are many examples, for example: tiptop (the highest point), super-super (a person who is highly skilled in Card gaming, or any Role Playing game), razzle-dazzle (a state of confusion or hilarity), hurry-scurry (a confused rush), hoity-toity ( thoughtless giddy behavior), dilly-dally (to waste time by loitering or delaying)。 This kind of rhyme not only retains a good sense of humor, but also delivers a sense of rhythm in sounds, and has the characteristic of sweet voice, all these features contribute to language’s wide spread and help facilitate communication。 

2。1。2 Lexicon Humor

Lexicon is another way to show the characteristic of humor。 Acronym, shortening and repetition are three primary ways to reach the target of humor through lexicon。 NATO, which means North Atlantic Treaty Organization at first, is an acronym, but now it has been developed into slang which has a whole different meaning with the original one by creative, humorous American people。 NATO now stands for No Action Talk Only。 It describes someone that only says something but not puts his plans into practice。 Other acronyms include VIP (very important people), V。D (venereal disease), D&D (Drunk and Disorderly), B。C (birth control)。 These acronym-derivative slang reduces redundancy, expresses humor by association, and conveys meanings。文献综述

Shortening and repetition also play important roles expressing humor when comes to American slang。 For instance, G-man is a shortening from government-man, which means a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation。 However, G also represents garbage, by using punny humor, the word mocks the work in FBI is no different than the garbage man’s work。 

The images associates with repetition is humorous and funny, for example, no-no, so-so, dum-dum。 They respectively mean taboo, moderately well, a stupid person。 Repetition makes the words concise, helps strengthen the tone and reinforces impressions。 

Besides from new meanings deviate from old words, new slang keeps popping, which gives people the chance to endow new meanings to old words。 The words used to express “good” for example, “good”, “great”, “excellent” are seldom used, since they could not transmit the excitement and stimulation the speedy development of society brought to people, so new meanings are granted to old words。 “Dope”, “tight”, “cool”, “sweet” etc could also express excellent now。