The study of social varieties of English with special emphasis on the Am. E. CB slang

Table of Contents

1. TOWARDS THE MAIN VARIETIES AND STYLES OF ENGLISH

1.1 What is language ?

1.2 Language typology

1.3 Typological Classification

1.4 Genetic Classification

1.5 Social and regional varieties of English

1.6 Register, jargon, sociolect

1.7 Professional language

1.8 Varieties of English

1.8.1 Standard English

1.8.2 Scottish English

1.8.3 Welsh English

1.8.4 Irish English

1.8.5 American English

1.8.6 Other varieties

2. A STUDY OF SLANG WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AMERICAN CB SLANG

2.1 Definition of slang

2.2 The position of slang, its effects on society and the justification for its use

2.3 Types of slang

War Slang

Criminal Slang

Urban Slang

Internet Slang

Prison Slang/Grypsera

Political Slang

Afro-American Slang

Vice Slang

SMS Slang

Sex Slang

2.4 On CB radio

2.5 The CB Community

2.6 The importance of handles

2.7 Beware of the bears - law enforcement officers in the CB universe

2.8 CB slang as a type of anti-language

Objectives and Research Themes

This work examines the phenomenon of language by providing definitions, exploring categorization methods, and analyzing core linguistic terms. It investigates the nature of colloquial speech and social varieties, with a specific focus on the function, societal impact, and linguistic characteristics of American Citizen’s Band (CB) slang.

• Fundamentals of language typology and genetic classification.
• Differentiation between variety, dialect, accent, register, jargon, and sociolect.
• Comparative analysis of major English varieties (British, American, Scottish, Welsh, Irish).
• Sociological and semantic study of CB slang as a community-building tool.
• Analysis of police-related terminology within the CB universe using metaphors and metonymy.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

CHAPTER 1 TOWARDS THE MAIN VARIETIES AND STYLES OF ENGLISH: This chapter introduces fundamental concepts in linguistics, including language typology, genetic classification, and a distinction between various language-related terms, followed by an overview of major English dialects.

CHAPTER 2 A STUDY OF SLANG WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AMERICAN CB SLANG: This chapter analyzes the definition and social function of slang, ultimately applying these theories to the specific subculture of CB radio users and their unique code for police interactions.

Keywords

language, dialect, jargon, language classification, language varieties, slang, social change, CB radio, police, sociolinguistics, terminology, communication, identity, anti-language, semantics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this publication?

The work primarily explores the phenomenon of language, focusing on definitions, categorization, and the evolution of social varieties, with a deep dive into the specific linguistic landscape of American CB radio slang.

What are the central thematic fields?

The book covers linguistic typology, the distinction between professional and colloquial language styles, the evolution of English dialects, and the sociological function of secret codes or "anti-languages" within subcultures.

What is the primary research question?

The research explores how language functions as an evolving tool for identity and communication, specifically asking how slang acts as a cohesive mechanism within the CB radio community to represent reality and manage social distance.

Which scientific methodology is applied?

The author uses a descriptive and analytical approach, combining literature reviews on linguistic theory with a social and semantic analysis of slang vocabulary, utilizing specific data sets like the CB radio code.

What topics are discussed in the main body?

The main body treats language typology, the definitions of sociolect, jargon, and register, the description of various English varieties, and the specific socio-linguistic analysis of CB radio terminology related to law enforcement.

Which keywords characterize the work?

Key terms include language, dialect, jargon, language varieties, slang, social change, CB radio, and police.

How is the term 'handle' significant in the context of the CB community?

A 'handle' serves as an on-the-air pseudonym that reflects the user's identity, interests, or social background, acting as a signal of membership and acceptance within the CB subculture, distinct from mere nicknames.

Does the author classify CB slang as an 'anti-language'?

The author concludes that while CB slang shares some features with anti-languages (such as lexical coding), it is ultimately too light-hearted and socially integrated to be categorized as a true anti-language, unlike more hostile criminal codes.