Informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered appropriate for formal occasions.
From Norwegian 'sleng' meaning 'to sling' or 'throw carelessly'. The term entered English in the 18th century, originally referring to the jargon of criminals and vagrants before expanding to mean any informal speech.
Slang is like linguistic graffiti - it's how communities mark their territory in the landscape of language, creating insider codes that can exclude outsiders while building solidarity within groups. What's fascinating is that yesterday's slang often becomes tomorrow's standard vocabulary, as words like 'mob' and 'banter' have made the journey from street talk to dictionary respectability.
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