COGNITIVE-PRAGMATIC FEATURES OF SLANG
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/Keywords:
slang, cognitive linguistics, pragmatics, conceptual metaphor, frame semantics, pragmatic inference, discourse, social identity.Abstract
This article investigates the cognitive and pragmatic features of slang through the perspective of contemporary integrative linguistic approaches. The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate that slang should not merely be regarded as an informal lexical layer but rather as a multifaceted linguistic phenomenon emerging from human cognition, conceptual organization, and communicative interaction. To accomplish this objective, theoretical perspectives from cognitive linguistics, pragmatics, and sociolinguistics are synthesized to examine the mechanisms underlying the formation and use of slang expressions, including conceptual metaphor, frame semantics, and pragmatic inference. Furthermore, the study explores the role of slang in constructing social identity, establishing interpersonal solidarity, intensifying emotional and expressive meanings, and implementing discourse strategies in contemporary communication. The findings reveal that slang in Present-Day English represents not only lexical innovation but also a sophisticated linguistic system shaped by conceptual and pragmatic mechanisms, reflecting the dynamic interaction between language, cognition, culture, and society. Consequently, the study argues that slang should be interpreted as a productive cognitive-pragmatic phenomenon rather than a peripheral component of the lexical system.
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