Types of Speech语言的类型

Types of Speech语言的类型

Types of Speech
　　Standard usage includes those words and expressions understood, used, and accepted by a majority of the speakers of a language in any situation regardless of the level of formality. As such, these words and expressions are well defined and listed in standard dictionaries. Colloquialisms, on the other hand, are familiar words and idioms that are understood by almost all speakers of a language and used in informal speech or writing, but not considered appropriate for more formal situations. Almost all idiomatic expressions are colloquial language. Slang, however, refers to words and expressions understood by a large number of speakers but not accepted as good, formal usage by the majority. Colloquial expressions and even slang may be found in standard dictionaries but will be so identified. Both colloquial usage and slang are more common in speech than in writing.
　　Colloquial speech often passes into standard speech. Some slang also passes into standard speech, but other slang expressions enjoy momentary popularity followed by obscurity. In some cases, the majority never accepts certain slang phrases but nevertheless retains them in their collective memories. Every generation seems to require its own set of words to describe familiar objects and events. It has been pointed out by a number of linguists that three cultural conditions are necessary for the creation of a large body of slang expressions. First, the introduction and acceptance of new objects and situations in the society; second, a diverse population with a large number of subgroups; third, association among the subgroups and the majority population.
　　Finally, it is worth noting that the terms "standard" "colloquial" and "slang" exist only as abstract labels for scholars who study language. Only a tiny number of the speakers of any language will be aware that they are using colloquial or slang expressions. Most speakers of English will, during appropriate situations, select and use all three types of expressions.

语言的类型
　　标准用法包括所有语言使用者在任何情况下理解、使用和接受的词语，不管其形式如何。因此，这些词语在标准词典中有很好的定义和罗列。俗语，另一方面，常用的词汇和成语，理解几乎所有讲这种语言和正式的口头或书面中使用，却不适用于更正式的场合。几乎所有的惯用语都是口语。然而，俚语指的是大量的说话人所理解的词语，而不是大多数人所接受的良好的正式用法。俗语，甚至俚语，都可以在标准词典中找到，但会被识别出来。口语用法和俚语在言语中比在书面语中更常见。
　　口语通常会变成标准语。有些俚语也会变成标准的语言，但其他俚语只会一时流行，而后默默无闻。在某些情况下，大多数人从不接受某些俚语，但仍保留在他们的集体记忆中。每一代人似乎都需要用自己的一套词汇来描述熟悉的对象和事件。许多语言学家指出，创造大量俚语的必要条件有三种文化条件。第一，引进和接受社会中的新事物和情况；第二，有大量子群的多样化人口；第三、子群与多数人口之间的联系。
　　最后，值得注意的是，“标准”、“口语”和“俚语”这一术语只存在于研究语言的学者的抽象标签中。只有极少数的语言使用者会意识到他们在使用俗语或俚语。大多数讲英语的人都会在适当的场合选择和使用这三种表达方式。