FW: "slang" and "informal" as dict labels [WAS: shirty?]

[Frank Abate]

RE what Dave W and Mar M say below, it is interesting to note both that
slang DOES exist in sign language (this is not surprising, but I did not
know, since I am not familiar with any sign language), and that there is the
potential, at least, for slang to come out of literature.  Of course, as to
slang in texting and internet/email use, it is used there of course, but the
slang words first occur in speech, perhaps -- or almost -- without
exception.

However, does anyone have proof positive that _grok_ "originated" in sci-fi
lit?  I am asking purely out of ignorance; excuse, please, if this is widely
known to all but me.

In any case, instances of slang terms not originating in speech acts (let us
call it) must be very few.  Slang is, by its nature, a speech thing --
parole, not langue.

One might say that slang is on parole, but it never langu(e)ishes.

Frank Abate

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
On Thu, 13 Feb 2003, Dave Wilton wrote:

#And does slang have to originate in speech? Is there slang in sign
language?

Absolutely, sign languages have slang.

#What about texting and internet slang? I guess you could equate all of
these
#with speech in that they are ephemeral modes of communication, but "grok"
is
#a slang term and that originated in sci-fi literature.

BTW, most of us who read science fiction prefer the abbreviation
"sf"/"SF". Many of us, though by no means all, dislike or even detest
the expression "sci-fi".

-- Mark A. Mandel
   just home, within the hour, from Boskone 40
   http://www.nesfa.org/boskone