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CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
In this chapter, the writer wants to describe the theories of slang; history of slang; types of slang; reasons of using slang; understanding Standard English;
Interpretation; definitions of the movie; plot summary of the Ocean’s Eleven movie.
A. Theories of slang
After reading some materials and references, the writer knows that there are some theories of slang that were proposed by some linguists. Here, the writer will try
to describe some of these theories:
1. According to John Camden Hotten.
In his statement, he said: “That slang represents that evanescent, vulgar language, ever changing with
fashion and taste, spoken by person in every grade of life, rich and poor, honest and dishonest. Slang is indulged in from a desire to appear familiar
with life, gaiety, town-humor, and with the transient nick names and street jokes of the day. Slang is the language of street humor, of fast, high and low
life. Slang is as old as speech and congregating together of the people in cities. It is the result of crowding, excitement, and artificial life.”
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2. According Bethany K. Dumass and Jonathan Lighter.
According to Bethany K. Dumass and Jonathan Lighter, slang shares at least two of the following traits:
“It is markedly lower in prestige than Standard English. It tends to appear first in the language of groups with low status, who may have little power or
responsibility. It is often taboo and unlikely to be used by people of high
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Jonathan Green, Cassel’s dictionary of Slang Cassel Co Wellington House 123 Streets. London.2000, p.V.
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defense against perceptions associated with the conventional term.”
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3. According to Willis.
In his statement he said that: “for the most part, slang is the result of linguistic inventiveness, especially of
young and lively persons who want fresh, original pungent, or racy terms with which they can rename ideas, action, and objects that they feel strongly about.
In effect slang is the result of a combination of linguistic irreverence and reaction against staid, stuffy, pompous, pretentious, or colorless diction.”
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Based on those definitions above, the writer has the following assumptions: 1.
That slang is represents vulgar language that used by person in every grade of life, and also the language of showing humor, high or low life.
2. That slang has traits such as slang is lower in prestige than Standard
English, and slang usually used by group with low status and also slang taboo used by people of high status.
3. That slang is the result of linguistic inventiveness by the young people
who want new trend for style in their life.
B. History of Slang
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