Track 3

Unit 1

Communication studies

Slang and language change

Page 5

Try it out!

So we know that people are just the way they speak for a number of different reasons.

First, they simply want to say something about themselves. They want to create a certain impression on whoever it is they’re talking to, or perhaps influence them.

Then there’s the context, we all change our language according to the situation we’re in, where we are and who our audience is.

For instance, if we’re in an interview we’re going to sound different than if we’re chatting with a friend say.

Next, people change their language in order to fit in. When we want to feel accepted by a certain group, we try to speak like the members of that group.

And last there is the entertainment factor. We sometimes adjust the way we speak, simply because we can. We are free to play with language and be creative with it and we enjoy that.