xxi of fast, high and low life, and it is become as old as speech and the
congregating together of people in cities.
16
Based on those definitions above the writer knows that every linguist has his own theory about slang. But, the writer can conclude that slang appears because
young and attractive person wants something fresh, new, and original words to share their ideas, emotion, and desire. Slang offers synonym, often figurative language
which has no real meaning. It is a non standard vocabulary that carries connotations and overtones of irreverence, cynicism, and humor. As G.K. Chesterton said that “All
slang is metaphor, and all metaphor is poetry.”
17
C. History of Slang Language
To know about slang language, the writer searches some materials or references that relate to slang language. After reading some books and browsing the
internet, the writer has assumption that slang appears for the first time because of war and some people want another language beside the Standard English to make it easier
and simpler to convey ideas or desire. Since the existence of slang language, it makes people have the new way to use the language, especially in English language. Some
of them are using it to shorten the words, so that it will be easier to speak it. Some others use it to keep the secret and make some jokes or humors.
16
Jonathan Green, Cassel’s Dictionary of Slang, London: Cassel Co, 1998, p. v
17
http: www.uncp.eduhomeCanadaworkallam1914languageslang.htm
xxii In this second chapter, the writer would like to propose the history of slang
language based on decades and characteristics. After reading some references about the chronicle of slang, the writer knows that the history of slang is divided into five
decades, which can be seen in the era. It starts from sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twenty century. Each decade has different characteristic
from other. From the book, Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, by: J. E. Lighter.
18
Here are some further explanations about history of slang language.
Table.1 History of Slang Language
No Decades
Characteristics
1. Sixteenth Century
Slang for the first time appears in the society and become the foreign, also only
particular group using it. For example, thieves, beggar, criminals, etc.
2. Seventeenth Century
In this century, slang rich of metaphors or figurative language and related to immoral
action. Moreover, slang begin to presented in popular plays event and the put the slang
language in stage for the first time, such as; in Richard Brome’s comedy A Fovial Crew
and in one of William Shakespeare’s poem in the word hick.
3. Eighteenth Century
The rhetoricians had established for the first time, among the pupils and
schoolmasters alike, a key element in social conceptualization of slang. Furthermore,
for the first time slang as a part of the recognized English vocabulary.
18
Lighter, J. E, Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, New York: Random House, 1994
xxiii 4.
Nineteenth Century Slang is more growth, it’s can be seen that
the intellectual produce the first Slang dictionary 1899. The World War I II
also has influence in slang language, such as G.I, Pissed off, brass, etc.
5 Twentieth Century
Slang become a part of spoken language and not only used by thieves or criminals
but also ordinary people, and slang is used in daily conversation because simpler and
easier to speak it.
J. E. Lighter: xxi-xxix
D. Kinds of Slang Language
