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Semantic Change in African American Slang

Studia Anglica Posnaniensia

Volume 48 (2013): Issue 1 (June 2013)

By: Maciej Widawski

Open Access

|Nov 2013

Abstract

Semantic change is an important part of African American slang and involves two mechanisms: figuration and shifting. Both are enormously productive and account for numerous slang expressions based on standard English. This paper presents these processes in detail. Partially drawing from the author’s earlier publications, the presentation is based on lexical material from a sizable database of citations from contemporary African American sources collected through extensive fieldwork in the United States in recent years.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/stap-2013-0002 | Journal eISSN: 2082-5102 | Journal ISSN: 0081-6272

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Language: English

Page range: 29 - 44

Published on: Nov 9, 2013

Published by: Adam Mickiewicz University

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

Keywords:

semantic change,

semantic shifting,

Related subjects:

Linguistics and semiotics,

Other languages of Europe,

European languages, other,

Literary studies,

Anglo-American literature,

Anglo-American literature, general,

Topics in literary studies,

Literary studies and linguistics

© 2013 Maciej Widawski, published by Adam Mickiewicz University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License.

Volume 48 (2013): Issue 1 (June 2013)

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