1. Introduction
In September 2010 a huge debate started in Britain after the famous actress Emma Thompson had given an interview for the BBC during which she complained heavily about the language of teenagers. “I went to give a talk at my old school and the girls were all doing their ‘likes’ and ‘innit’ and ‘it ain’ts’, which drives me insane”1, she said indignantly. Her statement probably mirrors what the majority of adults think of the language used by teenagers today. “Parents and teachers often have a critical and negative attitude towards adolescent language, judging it as ‘sloppy’ and attempting to correct vernacular features such as local accents, slang words, discourse particles or code-mixing.” (Androutsopoulos 2005: 1501) This debate about the appropriateness or inappropriateness of vernacular language use traces back to the very roots of modern sociolinguistics.
The American linguist William Labov was the first who conducted several quantitative studies concerning language variation in the 1960s (cf. Becker & Bieswanger 2006: 193). He tried to find out how the social background of speakers influences their language use, and why people decide to use either standard or non-standard language. Concluding from his studies, he developed the concept of language prestige, which assumes that standard forms have obvious (overt) prestige, whereas non-standard forms of language have a kind of hidden (covert) prestige among its speakers (cf. Becker & Bieswanger 2006: 197). So he argued that speakers do not merely use non-standard forms of language because they are uneducated or not able to use the standard form, but because the non-standard form carries symbolic or indexical meaning that the speakers want to draw on. According to that, language choice can be used to express identity or to mark group membership.
Taking Labov’s concept into consideration, contemporary teenage language should not be solely interpreted as a sign of an increasing lack of education or language decay. On the contrary, it is an expression of children’s growing identity that seeks for separation from the adult world. “Adolescence is a turning-point in life, as the individual matures both physically and cognitively, and thus has a direct influence on language acquisition and development.” (Martinez 2011a: 5)
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Concept of Teenage Language
3. Vocabulary
3.1 Word-formation Processes
3.1.1 Clipping
3.1.2 Compounding
3.1.3 Blending
3.1.4 Coinage
3.2 Vogue Words
4. Swearing
4.1 Intensifiers
4.2 Abusives
4.3 Expletives
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the linguistic characteristics of teenage language within the digital sphere, specifically focusing on how adolescents use blogs to establish group identity and mark social distinctions. It explores the innovative and transient nature of adolescent speech by analyzing specific lexical phenomena and the functional role of non-standard language in online social interactions.
- The role of social identity and group affiliation in language usage.
- Word-formation processes such as clipping, compounding, blending, and coinage.
- The function of "vogue words" and their susceptibility to rapid change.
- The pragmatic function of swearing, categorized into intensifiers, abusives, and expletives.
- Gender-based differences in online linguistic behavior.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.1 Clipping
The analysis of teenage blogs revealed that clippings belong to the most frequently used word-formations. Comparing the four blogs, readplatform.com has the biggest amount of clippings, most of them nouns, while the other blogs contain only shortened forms of adjectives and no example of shortened verbs. The reason for the dominating number of adjectives that have become slang vocabulary by the use of clipping is the support and feedback function of a group and its language. As has already been pointed out, adolescence is a time during which the individual is trying to build up a personal identity and this process is marked by insecurity. That is why teenagers are looking for confirmation by their peers. Famous blogs often allow their visitors to leave comments giving the chance of evaluating entries and exchange opinions.
(1) Daisy Nguyen: OMG – LOVE this look! So easy, and RED! FAVE color. FAVE outfit! (SJ 34) (2) Dipika Syngai: I love your playlist and you look so damn fab and your friends as well. (SR 27) (3) Christian Jensen: Glad I’m not the only one who’s butt is legit hurting over this. (SYWH 16)
The examples (1) and (2) include shortened versions of positive adjectives that are used to show agreement. Fav(ourite) and fab(ulous) seem to be the most frequently used adjectives that have undergone the process of clipping. Other examples are brill(iant) and amaz(ing). Since support of group members by positive evaluation belongs to the most important functions of teenage language, adjectives carrying a positive meaning are commonly used. This causes two problems for teenage language. Firstly, words that are often used enter standard language and become old-fashioned, which contradicts the teenage drive for modernity. Secondly, these words like favourite and fabulous, which actually carry strong positive meaning, lose their position as strong expressions due to their frequent use. From a teenage perspective, one could say that they have become linguistically worn. In order to restore the taste of modernity and also a strong meaning, they undergo the process of clipping.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the academic debate surrounding adolescent language and outlines the study's focus on blog-based communication.
2. The Concept of Teenage Language: Explores the sociolinguistic motivations behind teenage slang, highlighting its role in identity formation and group cohesion.
3. Vocabulary: Investigates innovative lexical strategies, including word-formation processes and the rapid emergence of vogue words.
4. Swearing: Analyzes the function of taboo language, categorizing it into intensifiers, abusives, and expletives to understand its pragmatic role in digital interaction.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the study's findings, confirming that digital blogs serve as a dynamic environment for linguistic innovation and social signaling.
6. Bibliography: Lists the academic resources and sociolinguistic studies utilized for the analysis.
Keywords
Teenage language, Sociolinguistics, Slang, Blog analysis, Word-formation, Clipping, Compounding, Blending, Coinage, Vogue words, Swearing, Group identity, Gender differences, Digital communication, Adolescence
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The research explores the linguistic patterns and strategies used by teenagers in online blogs to establish social identity and distinguish themselves from adults.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the motivation behind slang usage, the structure of adolescent word-formation processes, and the social functions of swearing and specific vogue words.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The primary objective is to investigate how adolescents utilize language to express identity and group membership in an increasingly digitalized environment.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The study conducts a lexical analysis of four distinct teenage blogs, examining specific linguistic segments to draw conclusions about teenage communication habits.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers word-formation mechanisms (clipping, compounding, blending, coinage), the usage of fashionable "vogue words," and the functional classification of swear words.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include teenage language, sociolinguistics, word-formation, online slang, and social identity.
How does the author define the role of clipping in teenage slang?
Clipping is primarily linked to the need for positive evaluation and peer confirmation, allowing teenagers to rejuvenate and personalize words for their specific group identity.
Are there gender-specific differences observed in the blog language?
Yes, the study observes that male-dominated blogs frequently use harsher language and swear words, whereas female-dominated blogs tend to favor more neutral, aesthetic, or supportive expressions.
What distinguishes a "vogue word" according to the analysis?
Vogue words are defined as words that gain sudden popularity and broader meaning within a specific group for a relatively short duration before becoming outdated or standard.
How does this study contribute to the field of sociolinguistics?
It provides empirical evidence that teenage digital language is not merely "language decay," but a creative and essential tool for navigating the transitional phase of adolescence.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nicolas Raedel (Autor:in), 2012, Teenage Language Online. An Analysis of Teenage Blogs, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/212917
