American slang is a special linguistic form, and is an indispensable part of American language. American slang reflects that the internal function of linguistic has been influenced by culture and endowed with unique character that other words does not possess or does not completely possess. American slang is a kind of words that has rich cultural meaning and special carrier of American culture. This thesis analyses features of American slang on cultural and linguistic perspective. By doing this, we may know much about American culture, and in turn get better understanding of slang by learning the cultural background behind them.
Key Words：American slang American culture Linguistic feature Cultural characteristics
Contents
ABSTRACT I
摘 要 II
1. Introduction 1
1.1 The Definition of Slang 1
1.2 The Nature of Slang 2
1.3the Characteristics of American Slang 3
1.3.1 Brevity 3
1.3.2 Novelty 3
1.3.3 Instability 4
1.3.4 Plural Synonym 5
1.4 The Emergence of Slang in the United States 5
2. The Linguistic Features of American Slang 8
2.1. Rhetoric Features 8
2.1.1. Euphemism 8
2.1.2 Figure of Speech 8
2.1.3 Hyperbole 8
2.2 Semantic Features 9
2.2.1 Phonetic Humor 9
2.2.2 Lexical Humor 9
3. American Slang as a Mirror of American Culture 12
3.1 Two Characteristics of American Slang Embodied in American Dominant Culture 12
3.2 Slang as an Insight into a Culture 12
3.3 Dominant American Cultural Patterns 13
3.4 Three American Slang Mapping American Subculture and Counterculture 13
3.4.1 Introduction of Subculture and its Relationship with American Slang 14
3.4.2 Introduction of Counterculture and its Relationship with American Slang 15
4. Conclusion 17
Bibliography 18
Acknowledgements 19
