Youth Slang as a source of Canadian English

Language has never existed in isolation from society, on the contrary – it was and is its integrated part. Because of the fact that society always undergoes some changes and development, the language also alters. For this reason, there is a crucial need to invest English language with its national variants. Modern linguists distinguish territorial variants of a national language and local dialects. Variants of a language are regional varieties of a standard literary language characterized by some minor peculiarities in vocabulary, sound system and grammar [; ].

British, American, Canadian and Australian English are main variants of the same English language, because they serve all spheres of verbal communication. Their peculiarities, especially morphology, word-formation and syntax, as well as their phonetic system are essentially the same. The status of Canadian English has not yet been well established. That is why the following investigation is relevant.

The topicality of the article lies in the necessity to conduct the scientific research of the Canadian English with the aim to single out lexical peculiarities of youth slang. In terms, this helps to gain excellent knowledge of English and to prevent misunderstanding during the process of intercultural communication.

The object of the exploration is youth Canadian slang.

The subject of our investigation is Canadian linguistic system, lexical peculiarities of Canadian variant.

The conventional approach to this problem is based on the comparative, historical and socio-cultural analysis.

The practical value of the article is that it can be used as an illustrative material during the process of learning English and also during the investigation of the lexical peculiarities of the vocabulary of Canada.

The correlation between four main variants of English is not balanced as there are specific rhythm and intonation for inhabitants of each country. The American English has influence on British English and vice versa. Canadian and Australian English have peculiarities of American and British English. But at the same time Australian English has influence on British, and Canadian on American. The main reason why there are many differences on the lexical level is the existence of lexical units in different period of time [].

A rather small number of speakers claim about Canadian English and it has a relatively brief history – the term “Canadian English” was first used only in 1854. As a dialect it has been described either as a combination of British and American peculiarities. However, Richard Bailey observes: “Canadian English, though diverse in communities and variable in the speech of individuals, is not a composite of archaic or rustic features or a potpourri of British and American speech ways but a true national language” [ , P. 152].

Now it is generally agreed that Canadian English is a variant of English, not a dialect. Throughout its history, Canadian English has been influenced by two powerful variants: British English and American English; according to the social and political conditions, the relative prestige of the norms of these variants and their effect on Canadian English has varied. Nevertheless, Canadian English is an independent lexical system, with the development of distinctive linguistic, phonetic and grammar peculiarities.

According to the Longman Dictionary, the slang is very informal, sometimes offensive, language that is used especially by people who belong to a particular group, such as young people or criminals [].

Talking about the variety of Canadian slang, it could be devoted into groups according to its place in the lexical system of English. So, if lexical units express new and necessary notion, meaning they can be add into literally Canadian English.  On the other hand, if they are just an addition to the system of synonyms and they have no novelty they will vanish very soon from the vocabulary of Canadian English. Because of the fact, that Canadian English wants to draw a boundary between American English, all the same rules about lexical units work with the slang.

Slang can be classified as a social variety characterizing a group, for example, music slang, military slang, drug slang, teenage slang, college slang; or as a regional variety distinguishing an area. According to Mattiello E., specific slang is language that speakers use to show their belonging to a group and establish solidarity or intimacy with the other group members [, P. 39–40]. It is often used to create speakers’ own identity. It is largely used by people of similar age and experience to strengthen the bonds within their own peer group, keeping outsiders out.  It is also used by people sharing the occupation or same living conditions, attitude or lifestyle.

General slang, on the other hand, is language that speakers use to break with standard language and to change the level of discourse in the direction of informality. It tells about the speakers’ intention to refuse conventions and shows their need to be fresh and starling in their expression, in other words, to enrich the language. It should be mentioned that some slang are both specific and general [, P. 39–40].

Because of the fact that lexical constituent of Anglo-Canadian slang is very dissimilar, it could be divided into following units:

• North- Americanisms : units that are common for American and Canadian Languages.

• Units that appeared and are used in USA, but that gradually get into Canadian language.

• Units that appeared and are used in Canada, but can be met in American language.

• Units that appeared and are used only in Canada [].

1. North-Americanisms:

Talking about these units, they appeared in XIX-XX centuries as a part of slang lexical system. Their origins are different, but they are assimilated by American and Canadian languages.

1. Lexical units that were in the USA first and then in Canada:

• Nouns signifying living beings: buff – enthusiast; ripstaker – a conceited person; floozie – prostitute;

• Nouns signifying inanimate objects: dump – a pub, a bar; beanie – a freshman's cloth cap; jitney – a cheap taxi;

• Nouns signifying process: shellacking – defeat; bend – outdoor party, feast;

• Nouns of material: weeno – wine; lightning – cheap whisky

• Collective Nouns: guff – nonsense, lies; bull – idle talk [;].

1. Lexical units that were listed in Canada first and then in the USA:

• Nouns signifying living beings: flannel-mouth –smb who is fond of backbiting; boomer – seasonal worker;

• Nouns signifying inanimate objects: jolt – a mouthful of alcohol drink; bug – a small automobile;

• Nouns signifying process: fakery – insincere behavior; hush-hush – confidential talk;

• Collective Nouns: bushwa(h) – nonsense [].

It should be mentioned that the nouns with expressive meaning are easier borrowed from American into Canadian and vice versa: gunsel (murderer); split (sharing of the profit).

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  1. Units that appeared and are used in USA, but that gradually get into Canadian language:

• Nouns signifying living beings: fink –unpleasant person, eager-beaver – boarder;

• Nouns signifying inanimate objects: Doodad – a thing for reminding about something [].

1. Units that appeared and are used in Canada, but can be met in American language:

There is not a big variety of such units because of two reasons:

• there were American equivalents for the Canadian words;

• these words appeared in the language later, than their equivalents.

As we can see, a huge influence of American English on Canadian is evident, but not vice versa. Canadian units have more regional nature, so that they are twice called in question before getting into the lexical system of American English.

1. Units that appeared and are used only in Canada.

There are a lot of lexical units specifically for Canadian English while talking about food:

• Beavertail – deep-fried dessert pastry resembling a beaver's tail;

• Poutine – French fries covered with cheese curds and gravy;

• Tortiere – a french-canadian meat pie;

• Milk in a bag – comes in a group of 3 bags;

• vinegar on fries – especially fish & chips [; ].

Talking about slang we deal with spoken language, because of that fact the expressions are widely spread in Canadian English Slang. For example:

• “Eh?” – Don’t you think? Conversational device that allows an unconfrontational canadian to turn a statement into a poll of opinion.

• Canuck – nickname for a Canadian;

• Clicks – slang for kilometres or kilometres per hour;

• Hoser – unsophisticated person;

• Keener – commotion; flurry of agitation;

• Lineup – line of people; queue;

• To be on pogey – to be on welfare;

• Two-four – case of beer containing 24 bottles;

• Mickey – 375 ml. (13 oz.) bottle of liquor [; ].

The educational system is very development and unique in Canada, that is why it is not a surprise that the lexical units based on this topic existed.

• Write a test in CE – take a test in StE;

• Invigilate an exam – to proctor an exam;

• Tutorial – recitation;

• Marking a test — grading a test;

• Public school – elementary school;

• Supply teacher – substitute teacher [].

Taking everything into consideration, we can mention that Canadian slang is a very complicated system, which includes chronologically different unites of the American and Canadian slang and at the same time has a huge independent system, specifically used in Canada. Talking in general, it is a new and quite original system. This system appeared due to the co-operation of all English variants and the national, cultural, traditional tendencies. To sum everything up, it is necessary to mention that all aspects investigated are affirmed that Canadian English is an independent system which has the bright future for development and Canadian slang is a source of widening of this system.

References:

1. Попова Л. Г. Лексика английского языка в Канаде. — М.: Высшая школа, 1996. — 214

2. Gold E., McAlpine J. Canadian English: A linguistic reader / Elaine Gold and Janice McAlpine. — Ontario: Queens University Kingston, 2010. — 235 p.

3. Mattielo E. Introduction to English Slang. A description of its Morphology, Semantic and Sociology. — Milan: Polimetrica, 2008. — 320 p.

4. Orkin M.M. Speaking Canadian English. An informal account of the English language in Canada / M.M. Orkin. — London: Routlege & Kegan Paul Ltd Broadway House, 1971.

5. Polkovs’kyi V.P. Lexical changes in the English language of the 21 st century (regional variants) and the problem of its teaching in Ukraine // Наукові записки. Серія: Філологічна. — Острог: Видавництво НаУ «Острозька академія». — Вип. 19. — 2011. — С. 306 314.

6. Telfer Geordie. Dictionary of Canadianisms: How to Speak Canadian, eh! — N/a: Folklore Publishing, 2009. — 352 p.

7. The Canadian Modern Language Review. — Ontario: Modern Language Teacher’s Association, 1983. — 368 pp.

8. The Winston Canadian Dictionary. — Canada: Halt, 1960.— 756 p.

9. John Algeo The Cambridge History of the English Language. v. 6. — Cambridge University Press, 2001. — 662 p. [Electronic recourse] / access mode: http://books.google.com.ua/books

10. Gregg, Robert J., “Canadian English Lexicography.” Focus on Canada [Electronic recourse] / access mode: http://www.slmc.uottawa.ca/

11. Canadian Slang Dictionary [Electronic recourse] / access mode: http://www.coolslang.com/in/canadian/index.php

12. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English [Electronic recourse] / access mode: http://www.ldoceonline.com/

Науковий керівник:

доктор філологічний наук, професор Яворська Галина Михайлівна