20100720 Do You Slang (1)

Do You Slang?

Making language more colorful one word or phrase at a time

Where do you find slang? It is like everywhere! And "way cool" - at least to some people. The dictionary defines slang as a kind of language mainly used in casual, playful speech whose terms are usually short-lived and change frequently. Slang coins new words and creates new meaings for old words. Who uses it? Everyone. And you'll find slang in almost every language.　American teens have slang from the emphatic no way to the ubiquitous like that peppers their language. The slang word chillaxing combines the words chill and relax and means hanging out and doing nothing.

Older folks still use slang from their younger days. Examples include have a blast, which means to enjoy a great time, and don't have a cow, which means don't get upset. Today the Internet helps slang proliferate, but years ago Shakespeare's writings spread it. Some people say that one in every 10 words Shakespeare used in his plays was slang. His plays popularized a lot of terms - many of which are considered standard language today. Believe it or not, bedroom, employer, luggage, soft-hearted and embrace are among the words Shakespeare either coined or helped to popularize.



slang Un. 俚語
eg: "Kick back" is slang for. "relax".
=>"放鬆"是"relax"的俚語。

slang v. 說俚語
eg: These football players slang a lot when they're alone.
=> 這些足球員在沒有別人的時候，常常說俚語。

ubiquitous adj. 普遍存在的/無所不在的
=> in many places you see it
eg: When we went to the woods, we were attacked by the ubiquitous mosquitoes.
=> 當我們去樹林中，就被到處都是的蚊子給攻擊。
eg: It seemed difficult for the celebrity couple to get rid of the ubiquitous paparazzi.
=> 這隊名人夫婦想要擺脫無所不在的狗仔隊似乎很難。

proliferate v. 激增/擴散
=> increase in number/a mount
eg: Crimes proliferated in the downtown area and caused many people to move to the suburbs.
=> 市區的犯罪氾濫以致於許多人民搬到郊區。
eg: Computer companies proliferated in San Jose in the 90's.
=> 90年代的聖荷西的電腦公司激增.



slang n. 俚語
=> words/phrases that are used informally

Slang coins new words and creates new meaings for old words.
=> here coin means "to use it for the first time, to create"

emphatic adj. 強調的/著重的
=> being emphasize

soft-hearted adj.
=> kind, compassion

embrace v.擁抱
=> hug



//== Chat room ==//

slang v. 俚語

cram v. 以填鴨式的方式教學/惡補

all-nighter n. 通宵K書

bomb the test 完全失敗

cool adj. 酷
awesome adj. 很棒的
sweet adj. 很棒的
eg: That car is pretty sweet. 那部車很讚

//== Grammar on the Go ==//

Today the Internet helps slang proliferate, but years ago Shakespeare's writings spread it

Today.., but years ago...
=> Compare how things are now with how thing were before

eg: Today we have the convenience of using celular phones, but years ago, we had to depend on pay phones.
eg: Today women can have any hairstyle they like, but years ago, many cultures expected women to have long hair.