Talk:Slang

I know people will generalise till the cows come home, but I strongly disagree with this modern thought that refers to internet slang when it is so very clearly an example of jargon... I think :) --Technopat 09:01, 27 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure I agree with your sentiment. Consider some internet slang: LOL, N00B, p0wn, pwnz, puter etc. I don't think this is technical language as one might expect with jargon.
 * This link suggests:


 * slang, cant, jargon, lingo, argot, patois, vernacular (a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)) "they don't speak our lingo"
 * jargon (specialized technical terminology characteristic of a particular subject)
 * It seems to me that the items above are not examples of technical terminology but more the language used by a particular group who wnat to communicate in semi-secret. Historically slang has been used to explicitly exclude others from the conversation.  Cockney rhyming slang has (or had) this function for instance. See here and note how many ways there are to say "my parents are watching what I'm doing".  Clearly this is an example of a specialised language being used to obscure meaning - and I submit that that that is what slang is largely about.--Bob M 09:51, 27 July 2009 (UTC)


 * As you say, slang has often been used to exclude, whereas internet "slang" is probably NOT meant to exclude. BTW, my all-time favourite is NORWICH... English, anyone? --Technopat 10:11, 27 July 2009 (UTC) Sorry! Forgot to sign off...


 * Sorry! Too many Ns in that - should, of course, be IMNSHO. Silly bunt! --Technopat 10:14, 27 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Having used the slang translator over the page I'm starting to worry about the nature or our relationship. :-)--Bob M 10:50, 27 July 2009 (UTC)
 * TP - please see my link above. Look at how many ways there are to say "my parents are watching me".  This is clearly meant to exclude parents and give the users a private language.  Jargon on the other hand, while it may exclude, does not have exclusion as its primary function.  It exists, at least in part, to facilitate more exact language amongst professionals. IMHO.--Bob M 10:48, 27 July 2009 (UTC)