1. Contextual Analysis:
* Usage: Slang is often used in informal settings with friends, family, or specific social groups.
* Regional Variation: Slang words can be specific to certain geographic locations or regions.
* Time-Bound: Slang tends to be short-lived, evolving and changing with trends and popular culture.
2. Semantic Features:
* Figurative Language: Slang often employs metaphors, similes, or other figurative language to create unique meanings.
* Idioms and Phrases: Slang can involve specific phrases or expressions that have unique meanings within a particular group.
3. Lexical Characteristics:
* Neologisms: Slang often involves new words created from existing words or phrases.
* Borrowing and Adaptation: Slang may borrow words from other languages or dialects and adapt them to new contexts.
4. Social Factors:
* Group Identity: Slang can be used to establish and maintain a sense of belonging within a particular social group.
* Social Status and Power: Slang can be used to express rebellion, informality, or a sense of being "in the know."
5. Dictionary and Corpus Analysis:
* Dictionaries and Lexicons: Some dictionaries and online resources specifically track slang terms and their usage.
* Language Corpora: Large collections of text and speech data can be analyzed to identify patterns of slang usage.
While there's no official "test," these methods provide a framework for understanding and classifying slang words. It's important to note that the boundaries of slang can be fluid and subjective, and what's considered slang in one context may not be in another.