In the most global terms, slang is defined as usually spoken language, although it also can be seen in literature ( e.g. Ivan Slamnig's: Better half of courage; J.D. Salinger's: The Catcher in the Rye).
Abstractly said, it is an informal language, which certain groups use to differentiate themselves from others, and members of those groupsuse slang to identify themselves with their social group, which helped them to define themselves.
In my point of view, slang at first could be found in the poor, gheto areas of the cities. Nowadays, it has the status of 'worldwide art', and you will hear and see slang everywhere, even in the places you wouldn't expect to- in TV, radio, on clothes (even I have a T-shirt with slang: I don't care two hoots...), and some people even have their own websites devoted only to the world of slang...
This sites also have a colloquial dictionaries, with the most popular slang words and expressions, with over 10.000 examples.
In my hometown, slang is in everyday use; we almost think on it as a part of our ordinary life.
With slang I think on myself as a part of my group, and with it we are now appreciating for our own style.
Our slang could be defined as a 'street-slang', and is related to local Hip-Hop vocabulary, and some people who often don't hear it, and don't know us may think that we are examples of anti-social behaviour, or even vandals, seeking for their identity...
To be honest, the truth is far away from that. Those people, who are familiar with Hip-Hop culture, or at least the latest music charts, know what we are doing with our slang... Yes, we are trying to express our identity, but not to do anything menacing and unsightly.
We are only showing our class-consciousness.
But in Mostar, slang is ghetto sign, and local thought is that is used only by young and poor people, from the run-down districts of the town.
However, I think that those people should inform themselves better about slang and it's use...
In the meantime, my group and I will continue using slang, above all in our gossip-moments, when we are suspicious of strangers who are sitting next to us, and might hear what we're saying.
(One example of our slang- we often use English slang 'dinner-whore' for certain girls that live here... I hope you know the meaning...).
And to conclude, slang is our way of life... With it we can show our imagination and creativity, without doing any damage....
NORMALA, BRATO.... :-)
