First published in 1933, this book explores both contemporary and historical slang, focusing on the characteristics and quirks of the English and American languages. As well as looking at commonly used slang, there are sections that give the reader insight into more unusual areas such as Cockney slang, slang in journalism and slang in commerce, as well as slang used by sailors, the law and the church. The book will be of interest to scholars and the general readers who take an interest in language.
Preface; Part 1: General Considerations 1. Slang: Definition, Etymology, Synonyms, Range 2. Origin, Uses, Reasons for Use, Attitudes towards Slang 3. Characteristics of Slang: In Relation to Language in General 4. The Essence of Slang Part 2: A Sketch of the History of English Slang 1. Introductory 2. The Sixteenth Century 3. The Seventeenth Century 4. The Eighteenth Century 5. The Nineteenth Century 6. The Twentieth Century 7. Some Tendencies of the Present Part 3: Particular Aspects 1. The Affiliations of Slang 2. The Standard and Norm of Slang 3. Kinds of Slang other than the Standard 4. Oddiites 5. A Glance at Colonial Slang Part 4: American Slang 1. Introduction 2. Affiliations 3. Characteristics 4. Theorists 5. Practitioners Part 5: Vocabularies 1. English 2. Australian 3. American; Index of Theorists, Exponents, and Themes
Biography
Eric Partridge
