After finding the lexical and contextual meaning of each slang words and phrases, it will be classified into type of semantic change.
4.1.2 Type of Semantic change
No. Slang
Type of Semantic Change Generali
zation Speciali
zation Pejoration Amelio
ration
1 Damn
2
Shit
3 Gonna
4
Rubbish
5 Tits
6
Good egg
7 Colossus
8
Ladies man
9 Pens
10 Fat coke
11 Eat brain
12 Rendering.
13 Jump page
14 Awesome
15 Sick
16 Sweat
17 Sleeper
18 Nuts
19 Junk
20 Prancing Pony
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21 Cool
22 Hell
23 storm
24 Java
25 Solids
26 Chewie Seat
27 Loo
28 Cerebro
29 Wreck
30 Hitchhiking
31 Whaddya
32 Malt
33 Bangstick
34 Wee
35 Prick
36 Gotta
37 Fuck off
38 Bogie
39 Bastard
40 Letterman
41 Fucking insane
42 Wormhole
43 Balls
44 G’day mate
45 Whatcha
46 Doin’
47 Pissy jeans
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48 Hitch Hiker
49 Fuck
50 Kickin’ Back
51 Gotcha
52 Bagel
53 Nerds
54 Goddamnit
55 Faggot
56 Geek
57 Horseshit
58 Baby
59 Freak
60 Ya
61 Fatty
62 Balls
63 Kinda
64 Game
65 Skedaddle
66 Hot
67 Bunch
68 Bingo
69 Ewok
70 Sausage
71 Wet
72 Blood
73 Mum
74 Catch
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75 Y’
76 Freeze
77 Mother fucker
78 Bitch
79 Bulb
80 Goblin
81 Dude
According to Palmer 1981: 8-9, there are four types of semantic change. Based on Table 4.2.1, there are four kinds of changes in meaning that has been
passed by those American Slangs in “Paul” movie, namely generalization, pejoration, specialization and specialization. Based on the result, it is found all of the processes
will be explained more detail in the following:
4.2.1 Generalization
Generalization happens when the meaning of a word is broadening to include new concepts. The range of its meaning increases, so that the word can be used in
various contexts with a broader meaning than its neutral one. The example of this process are the slang words baby and bastard.
a. Baby Noun
When we investigate the etymology of the word, actually its origin has meaning “infant.” Now the meaning of baby means “infant” and
in the sense of slang it is used especially as “a form of address expressing affection for a young woman, young wife, lover, etc.
b. Bastard noun
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The meaning of the slang word bastard also has changed in the meaning. Before its meaning broadens to “contemptible person”, it
has origin meaning “illegitimate child.”
4.2.2 Specialization