Slang Dictionary Assignment (5%)

Due before the beginning of class Tuesday September 30

One way in which we can see dialect variation is in the use of different slang terms. For the next week, as you go about your daily life, keep your ears open for slang that you hear from others. Record each instance in the google doc linked here . You will need to include the slang word or phrase, its contextual meaning, demographic information about the person who said the it, and the details of the situational context when the word was uttered. These should be observations of others, not records of your own lexicon.

Please record at least 15 unique slang terms that have not already been posted to the google doc. They can be Stanford-specific, or more generally used, but they should be words you wouldn't expect to see in a standard dictionary. (Though you'd be surprised what's in the dictionary these days!)

We are looking for 15 unique slang terms per student, which is why you will be able to see what others have posted. We only want one entry in the dictionary for each term. Do not enter repeat entries of terms that have already been posted by other students in the google doc. And, needless to say, do not change or delete entries posted by others. Be sure to search the doc for each of your entries to make sure it has not already been recorded by another student. (This may be incentive to complete your entries as soon as you hear them!) There is also a column where you should enter your own name next to each entry.

After completing your slang dictionary entries, you should pick one them terms that you find interesting. You will investigate the history of this word/phrase using any resources available to you. These can include the Oxford English Dictionary (accessible via Stanford's online library), or other resources like slang dictionaries online. If it is a new word unique to Stanford, you may do a little original research around campus to find other users of it and build your own comprehensive picture of its origins. Trace this word's history and range of uses as best you can. Then, complete a 1-page single-spaced write-up (or 2-pages double-spaced) on the slang term, with an extra page listing references/resources used. Explore questions like the following:

  • Where did this word/phrase come from?
  • Who uses it?
  • How has its meaning evolved over time?
  • What can the term tell us about the connection between language and culture?
  • How does the term relate to the issues of standardness, dialects and variation that we discussed in class?

Email your completed assignment as a PDF or DOC attachment to the course e-mail address linguist159-aut1415-staff@lists.stanford.edu before class on Tuesday, September 30.