EBOOK Life of Slang

This book traces the development of English slang from the earliest records to the        latest tweet. It explores why and how slang is used, and traces the development of        slang in English-speaking nations around the world. The records of the Old Bailey        and machine-searchable newspaper collections provide a wealth of new information        about historical slang, while blogs and tweets provide us with a completely new        perspective on contemporary slang. Based on inside information from real liveslang        users as well as the best scholarly sources, this book is guaranteed to teach you        some new words that you shouldn't use in polite company.Teachers, politicians,        broadcasters, and parents characterize the language of teenagers as sloppy,        repetitive, and unintelligent, but these complaints are nothing new. In 1906, an        Australian journalist overheard some youths on a street-corner:Things will be bally        slow till next pay-day. I've done in nearly all my spond. Here, now; cheese it, or        I'll lob one in your lug. Lend us a cigarette. Lend it; oh, no, I don't part. Look        out, here's a bobby going to tell us to shove along.What, he wondered, was the world        coming to. For the 411, read on ...