A lexico-semantic analysis of English slang in selected secondary schools in Gulu City, Northern Uganda

Abstract

This study set out to examine the lexical and semantic properties of slang expressions among secondary school students in Gulu City, Northern Uganda. It was guided by three objectives: (a) To identify common slang expressions used by secondary school students in Gulu City; (b) To establish the strategies involved in the formation of slang expressions used by secondary school students in Gulu City; (c) To find out the semantic properties of slang expressions used by secondary school students in Gulu City. Using three main data collection methods and techniques, namely elicitation, conversational modules and structured interviews, the study found out that secondary school students in Gulu City use slang expressions in their discourse, be it spoken or written. The study also found out that the slang expressions used stem from morphological processes involving clipping, and borrowing, among others. These expressions present semantic properties involving pejoration, metaphorization, semantic extension, semantic narrowing, as well as semantic preservation. The study concludes by highlighting how slang expressions are pervasive in students’ discourse and how semantic preservation is a key component in the analysis of slang expressions, as, while these lexical innovations may present many morphological changes from the source words, in many cases, the meaning of the source words is preserved. The study thus recommends that teachers of English should try their level best to explain to students the difference between slang and non-slang expressions (including their morphological and semantic properties), as well as where each of these is usable.