A LINGUACULTURAL STUDY OF BRITISH SLANG IN YOUTH CULTURE
Keywords:
Slang, british slang, youth culture, sociolinguistics, language variation, identity construction, colloquial language, youth identity, cultural expression, lexical innovation, informal language, communication practices, urban vernacular, subcultural languageAbstract
This article presents a comprehensive linguacultural analysis of British slang as used by contemporary youth, highlighting the intricate relationship between language, identity, and culture. British youth slang is not merely a set of informal or non-standard expressions; it represents a dynamic linguistic system shaped by historical subcultures, evolving social norms, ethnic diversity, and digital media. By examining the development and usage of slang in various youth contexts—such as music, peer interaction, online communication, and urban subcultures—this study illustrates how slang functions as a tool for self-expression, social bonding, group identity, and resistance to mainstream cultural values. A particular focus is given to the emergence of Multicultural London English (MLE), a hybrid sociolect that encapsulates the influence of immigration and multiculturalism on the English language. By taking a linguacultural approach, this study argues for a more nuanced and respectful understanding of youth slang as a rich, adaptive, and meaningful form of cultural expression.
References
Cheshire, J., Edwards, V., & Whitley, A. (2011). English Around the World: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press.
Bucholtz, M., & Hall, K. (2004). Language and Identity. In A. Duranti (Ed.), A Companion to Linguistic Anthropology (pp. 369-394). Blackwell.
Rampton, B. (1995). Crossing: Language and Ethnicity Among Adolescents. Longman.
Baker, C. (2006). Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. Multilingual Matters.
Labov, W. (1972). Sociolinguistic Patterns. University of Pennsylvania Press.
Godley, A. (2016). "That’s Bare, Fam": The Role of Slang in Youth Subculture and
Sebba, M. (2013). Language in London: The Role of Ethnicity and Social Class in Language Variation and Change. Routledge.
Thornborrow, J. (2005). Power and the Language of Youth Subcultures. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 9(2), 227-246.
Cameron, D. (2007). The Myth of Mars and Venus: Do Men and Women Really Speak Different Languages?. Oxford University Press.
Bucholtz, M., & Stoudt, B. (2009). Slang and the Creation of Youth Identities. In J. Holmes & K. Hazen (Eds.), Research Methods in Sociolinguistics: A Resource Book for Students (pp. 123-140). Routledge.
Stuart, J. (2014). Language and Social Media: The Rise of Digital Slang. Oxford University Press.
Rickford, J. R., & McNair-Knox, F. (1994). Social and Linguistic Factors in African American Vernacular English: A Sociolinguistic Study of Speech Styles. American Speech, 69(3), 215-234.
Crystal, D. (2006). Language and the Internet. Cambridge University Press.
Ochs, E., & Schieffelin, B. B. (2011). Language Socialization: An Historical Overview. In P. Auer & L. Wei (Eds.), Handbook of Multilingualism and Multilingual Communication (pp. 178-197). Mouton de Gruyter.
Eckert, P. (2000). Language and Gender. Cambridge University Press.
Zukowski, M. (2018). The Spread of Youth Slang in Digital Communities. New Media and Society, 20(1), 34-45.
