Stylistic lexicology

SLANG

• The New Oxford English Dictionary defines slang as follows:” a) the special vocabulary used by any set of persons of a low or disreputable character; language of a low and vulgar type; b) the cant or jargon of a certain class or period; c) language of a highly colloquial type considered below the level of standard educated speech and consisting either of new words or of current words employed in some special sense.”
• As is seen from these quotations slang is represented both as a special vocabulary and a special language and as such it should be characterized not only by its peculiar use of words but also by phonetic, morphological and syntactical peculiarities

• Tope - If something is “tope,” it’s cool to the teenage contingent. So what’s a tope? It’s a combination of “tight” and “dope,” both words meaning something that’s beyond cool.
• So if you’re tope, you’re somewhere in the stratosphere of utter coolness.
• Frenemy - This term is a combination of the words "friend" and "enemy." It is a person who appears on one hand to be your friend but, at the same time is antagonistic towards you.
• Supersize - Starting with a way to order a bigger order of fries, "supersize" now is used to point anything, anyone or any idea that is excessively large.
• Ride - The word “ride” is of relatively recent origin. It was initially meant to mean a car, as in, “here’s my ride” Now it refers to sneakers (particularly of the brand name and expensive variety.)

• slang is so broad that it includes many variants:
• cockney, public-house, commercial, military, theatrical, parliamentary, journalist, political, military and school slangs. For example, the following expressions belong to the school slang: bully, to crib, to smoke (to redden from shape), Dame (teacher), play hookey (truant). Common slang words and expressions: banana oil – flattery; ball up – make a mess; angel dust – drug; answer the call of nature – to relieve oneself; brain bucket – motorcycle helmet; cherry farm – penitentiary; culture vulture – sightseeing bragger; go-go kind of a guy – active vigorous young man.