单项选择题
| Standard usage include those words and
expressions understood, used, and accepted by a majority of the speakers of a
language in any situation regardless of the level of formality. As such, these
words and expressions are well defined and listed in standard dictionaries.
Colloquialisms, on the other hand, are familiar words and idioms that are
understood by almost all speakers of language and used in informal speech or
writing, but not considered acceptable for more formal situations. Almost
all idiomatic expressions are colloquial language. Slang, however, refers
to words and expressions understood by a large number of speakers but not
accepted as appropriate formal usage by the majority. Colloquial expressions and
even slang may be found in standard dictionaries but will be so identified. Both
colloquial usage and slang are more common in speech than in writing. Colloquial speech often passes into standard speech. Some slang also passes into standard speech, but other slang expressions enjoy momentary popularity followed by obscurity. In some cases, the majority never accepts certain slang phrases but nevertheless retains them in their collective memories. Every generation seems to require its own set of words to describe familiar objects and events. It has been pointed out by a number of linguists that three cultural conditions are necessary for the creation of a large body of slang expressions. First, the introduction and acceptance of new objects and situations in the society; second, a diverse population with a large number of subgroups; third, association among the subgroups and the majority population. Finally, it is worth noting that the terms "standard", "colloquial," and "slang" exist only as abstract labels for scholars who study language. Only a tiny number of the speakers of any language will be aware that they are using colloquial or slang expressions. Most speakers of English will, during appropriate situations, select and use all three types of expressions. |