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A very welcome to presentation on Slang, Jargon and Taboo words used in Bangla LanguageAdviser: Md. Mukibuzzaman Khan Lecturer, department of MA in ELT, Eastern University Presenter: Md. Ziaul Islam ID:

OVERVIEW

Slang: The term slang denotes the use of informal words or expressions that are not considered standard in the speakers language and which are mostly used in informal situations and easily identified. Slang is the identification mark of ones social environment as well. Generally the use of slang does not depend on age but the people in a group that are familiar with it like teenagers, youth or among the people of the same ages . Sometimes it is usually taboo when speaking to people of higher social status. For examples:

SlangsLiteral meaningIntended meaningBoinga () Vagabond () AlienAabe () Meaninglessly calling someoneLovechild Home craft ( ) Household arts (as cooking, weaving) Private tuition.

Jargon: Jargon is a term that is used to describe a set of words that have a specific meaning in a specific context within a particular community. Jargon, the terminology of a science, technology, art, profession, trade, or craft. The term has also come to mean the officialese of government. (Jargon is originally an Old French word meaning warbling of birds.)Examples:The word hen generally means a domestic animal but the criminals used as victim sign. Similarly, dal or pea is a daily necessary item but the drug addicted person(s) use it as narcotic/intoxicant. The word figure means image used by the biology student but math students used it as amount. Mamma (), whats up? Generally this type of word commonly used among the teen agers.

Taboos:

Taboos are those words and phrases which some people find shocking or offensive and are generally considered inappropriate in certain contexts. They are often used in situations full of emotion such as in an argument, making love, playing sport, in pain or when one is under a lot of stress. Taboos vary from society to society depending on beliefs, ethics and cultural distinctions. Labov (1972) said taboo words are mostly found in adolescent peer groups in the age range of 9 to 18 years. Taboo languages can also be referred as vernacular languages or non-official languages. Examples:

Calling a healthy person as an ass () or retard (), calling a Bangladeshi citizen as indigenous (), war-criminal (/); calling a person as satan ().

RESEARCH DESIGN

ParticipantsIn this research study, the participants wereThe student of Dhaka City College (Bangla Medium) and Bir Shreshtha Noor Mohammad Public College (English Version), Dhanmondi, DhakaChosen by convenience sampling1 male & 1 female

InstrumentInterviewingTime- 6 minutesDate- November 28, 2014

Background of interviewingThe purpose of this study was to understand why the youths expose slang, jargon and taboo words in their daily life? Are they taking this new style as their sweet will? How do they feel while speaking? Do they face difficulties from others while exposing? And what are the sources of these words and whom with they generally share them?

Questions to participantsQ1 (1st participant Bangla Medium): Are you familiar with the slang and taboo words that are usually used by our youths? Ans. Yes. I am aware of this words and I personally use them.

Q2 (2nd participant English Version): When do you use slang words?Ans. In most cases, I use them with my friends in informal situations like outside of the class, get togethering, outing and so on.

Q3 (1st participant Bangla Medium): Do you think youths are adopting these words consciously or unconsciously?Ans. I think majority of the youths are adopting them consciously.

Q4 (2nd participant English Version ):Why do you think it is important to follow any particular trend?Ans. I think that it shows ones smartness and it is good to change style with the current popular trend. I want to cope up with the changing environment and want to present myself with a new look as well as to catches others' attention.

Q5 (1st participant Bangla Medium): Do you think this can replace our existing standardspoken Bangla?Ans. I think it can definitely replace our own standard of spoken language. This style is like a guest appearance and can change our real standard of spoken Bangla anyway.

Q6 (2nd participant English Version): Have you ever been used these words outside of you peer group? Ans. Generally, I use them within my community but sometimes in the cinema hall.

Q7 (1st participant Bangla Medium): What are the sources of the new words or style ?Ans. I generally picked up new words and speaking style from my friends, neighbors, FM Radio, satellite TV , social media and so on.

Q8 (2nd participant English Version): What do you think about the notion that the speakers of this style represent certain social groups like snob, rich kids etc.Ans. It may be true but I am agreed to some extent on this point of view.

FindingsThere were 8 questions in the questionnaire that were given to the students of Bangla Medium and English Version. The responses of the students were positive. Throughout the interactions with the students of different backgrounds, I came to learn that they are absorbing the slang, jargon and taboo words consciously in most cases and use them inside their community. They said it is an opportunity to expose oneself to others by these type of verbal means and these verbal means are carried out by their friends, neighbors, Radio, TV, social media and many forth. Though they are criticized; they love to use them.

Conclusion

It can be observed from the findings that a great variety has been noticed in speech style among the Bangladeshi youths, nowadays. Throughout the research; its easy to find out that why the youths use slang, jargon and taboo words in their daily conversation. The findings show that the young generation feels proud speaking the style by which they portrait their new image in the society. They also admit that this new style of speaking is spreading in such a way that our very own style of speaking is somehow losing its charm.

Limitations of the StudyVery few of studies previously conducted in the field of Slang, Jargon and Taboo words used in Bangla language.The research language was mixed.The participants were uneasy while speaking.Interview, therefore, findings may not be generalized to other languages.

Works CitedBourdieu, P. (1991). Language and symbolic power. Cambridge: Polity Press.Das Subrata. Slang vocabulary used by the youth.Hammink, J. E. A. (2000). Comparison of the code switching behavior andknowledge of adult and children. Retrieved from

http://hamminkj.tripod.com/babel/CS_paper.htm.Basu, B. L. (2009). Attitudes and resistance to language variation and change: The case ofBanglish on FM radio in Bangladesh. ( M.A. Dissertation). Institute ofEducation, University of London, UK.http://www.slideshare.net/search/slideshow?searchfrom=header&q=slang (Accessed: November 29, 2014)Labov, W. (1990). Language and social context. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.

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