IELTS - Special
Words
Slang
Jargon and Argot
Dialect and Briticisms
Slang
Test: Write In
Slang is a very informal
use of vocabulary and idiom, typically formed by creative, often clever juxtapositions
of images or words. It is characteristically more metaphorical, playful,
elliptical, vivid, and ephemeral than ordinary language.
New slang expressions tend
to come from subcultures, such as adolescents, ethnic minorities, citizen-band
radio broadcasters, sports groups, criminals, and members of established institutions,
such as the armed forces or labor unions.
If members of the
subculture have sufficient contact with the mainstream culture, the slang
expression often passes into general use. For instance, "cool" (fashionable,
well-accepted), "nitty-gritty" (the core or crux of some matter),
and "The Man" (the law) all derive from the black culture
of New York's Harlem area.
Slang develops just as
other levels of language develop. In some instances, words acquire new meanings
("cat" for a person); in others, a meaning becomes extended
("fink," at first a strikebreaker, now refers to any
betrayer).
Words become abbreviated
("burger" for "hamburger," "perk" for
"percolate"), and acronyms become widely used ("VIP").
Often words are created to
deal with social and other innovations (as "tailgating,"
"yuppie," "hip-hop").
Slang expressions can
quickly become passé ("sheik," "skiddoo," "goo-goo
eyes," "the cat's pajamas," "hepcat") or standard
speech ("hand-me-down" for "second-hand item").
Today, mass communication
has greatly speeded up the circulation of slang expressions.
While slang invigorates a
language, giving it freshness and energy, it has no place in formal speech and
writing.
Use it occasionally to
flavor your conversation, but be careful to suit your audience and purpose.
Also, make sure the words you're using are not stale and out of date.
Write
In
Each of the following
sentences contains an italicized slang word or expression that is perfectly appropriate
in the context of informal conversation.
For each sentence, replace
the slang word with a word or phrase that would be better suited to more formal
usage and notice the effect of the change. Write your answer in the space
provided.
_________________1. He
really bugs me when he does that.
_________________2. Slow
down! Smokey's up ahead behind those bushes!
_______________3. That
chore was a real pain in the neck.
_______________4. Johnny
was hit on the bean with the softball.
_______________5. I had a
lot of moola riding on that bet.
_______________6. I blew
it all at the races.
_______________7. That
franchise deal was a ripoff.
_______________ 8. If you
keep on drinking like that, you're going to get plastered.
_______________ 9. I wish
he'd quit his bellyaching.
_______________ 10. When
she's in one of those moods, she's a real sourpuss.
_______________ 11. He
zapped the figures marching across the screen and defeated his opponent.
_______________ 12.
What's your beef?
_______________ 13. I
told him to bug off.
_______________ 14. If he
doesn't start studying soon, he's going to flunk this course.
________________15. Mike
is hooked on video games.
Jargon
and Argot
Legal Argot
Publishing Argot
Printing Argot
Theater Argot
Computer Argot
Aeronautics Argot
"Get him in here
stat," the doctor ordered. "Stat," a word adopted by the medical
establishment from Latin "statim," is medical argot for
"immediately" and is used when doctors and their assistants want to
communicate quickly and efficiently.
Both "jargon" and "argot" refer to the vocabulary
that is peculiar to a specific group of people and that has been devised for
intergroup communication or identification.
Its use is also a means of
restricting access by the uninitiated and creating a sense of exclusivity among
group members.
Though the words
"jargon" and "argot" are interchangeable,
"jargon" has
derogatory connotations and one of its common meanings is gibberish,
nonsense.
For that reason we shall
use the designation "argot" for specialized terminology.
While some argot does pass
into general circulation, most of it remains incomprehensible to the layperson.
Argot should be used only
within the field to which it belongs; otherwise, it will
probably fail to
communicate your meaning. Here are some examples of argot drawn from different
disciplines.
Legal
Argot
on all fours a
legal precedent exactly on the mark
blacklining marking
up a legal document for changes
nit a small point
conformed copy a legal
document with a printed rather than a signed name
counterparts identical
copies signed by different parties
Publishing
Argot
dummy a mocked-up copy to be checked, as for
pagination.
proof a trial impression of composed type taken
to correct errors and make alterations
gutter the white space formed by the inner
margins of two facing pages of a book
slush pile unsolicited
manuscripts
Printing
Argot
bleed illustration or printing that extends
beyond the trim size of the page
roll size paper width
live art the actual art being used
blanket the rubber sheet in a printing press that
transfers the image from the plate to the paper
Theater
Argot
angel a theatrical backer
spot a spotlight
apron the part of a stage in front of the
curtain
ice free tickets
Computer
Argot
boot up to start a computer by loading the
operating system
crash a major computer malfunction
debug to detect and correct errors in a system
interface connection; interaction
on-line connected to a main computer
Aeronautics
Argot
jig a device in which an airplane part can be
held while it is being worked on
BAFO best and final offer
RFQ request for quote
CDRL contract data requirements list
Matching
Synonyms
Below are some examples of
baseball argot. See how closely you can match each word or phrase with its
meaning. Write your answer in the space provided.
_____ 1. fungo [ ] a.
a high fly ball that's easy to catch
_____ 2.
around the horn [ ] b.
batter hits the ball down so it will bounce high
_____ 3. hit
for the cycle [ ] c.
a baseball tossed in the air and struck as it comes down
_____ 4. can
of corn [ ] d.
a home run with three runners on base
_____ 5.
grand slam [ ] e.
to get a single, double, triple, and home run in one game
_____ 6.
Baltimore chop [ ] f.
a double play started by the third baseman
Dialect
and Briticisms
A dialect is a version of
language spoken in a particular geographic region or by a specific group of
people.
Dialects frequently
contain words, pronunciations, and grammatical structures that are not accepted
as standard English. For example, in the British Yorkshire dialect,
"something" would be rendered as "summat."
Although the Americans and
the British have little difficulty communicating with each other, each country
nevertheless retains a vocabulary of its own.
Words used specifically by
the British are known as Briticisms. Here are some of the more common ones.
Americanism Briticism
bar pub
laid off (from a job) redundant
raincoat mackintosh
police officer, cop bobby
guy bloke
candy store sweet-shop
crazy barmy
druggist chemist
TV telly
gasoline petrol
elevator lift
run (in a stocking) ladder
sofa settee
subway underground
hood (of a car) bonnet
naked starkers
napkin serviette
truck lorry
call up (on the
telephone) ring up
French-fried potatoes chips
Matching
Synonyms
Match each Briticism with
its American counterpart.
Write your answer in the
space provided.
1. LIFT [ f ] a.
napkin _____
2. UNDERGROUND [
] b. sofa _____
3. TELLY [ ] c.
hood (of a car) _____
4. BARMY [ ] d.
truck _____
5. CHIPS [ ] e.
guy _____
6. REDUNDANT [ ] f.
elevator _____
7. SETTEE [ ] g.
druggist _____
8. PETROL [ ] h.
TV _____
9. BLOKE [ ] i.
police officer, cop _____
10. BOBBY [ ] j.
run (in a stocking) _____
11. LORRY [ ] k.
subway _____
12. CHEMIST [ ] l.
crazy _____
13. RING UP [ ] m.
call up _____
14. MACKINTOSH [
] n. gasoline
_____
15. SERVIETTE [ ] o.
raincoat _____
16. PUB [ ] p.
French fries _____
17. SWEET-SHOP [ ] q.
bar _____
18. LADDER [ ] r.
laid off _____
19. BONNET [ ] s.
candy store _____
20. STARKERS [ ] t.
naked _____
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