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Maelstrom Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

Why is the word "slang" not countable?

The reason of why this word is not even countable is so beyond me.
Aren't words supposedly countable by all means?

Or slang words are perceived differently in the English-speaking world?
Just wondering, of course:)
  

Top answer

Slang - vocabulary, idiom, etc, that is not appropriate to the standard form of a language or to formal contexts, may be restricted as to social status or distribution, and is characteristically more metaphorical and transitory than standard language . com/dictionary/english/slang ) Slang words and expressions are countable, but the concept of slang is not.

— Fivejedjon

  • Slang - vocabulary, idiom, etc, that is not appropriate to the standard form of a language or to formal contexts, may be restricted as to social status or distribution, and is characteristically more metaphorical and transitory than standard language .
  • com/dictionary/english/slang ) Slang words and expressions are countable, but the concept of slang is not.
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4 Answers
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Slang - vocabulary, idiom, etc, that is not appropriate to the standard form of a language or to formal contexts, may be restricted as to social status or distribution, and is characteristically more metaphorical and transitory than standard language. (http://www.
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maelstromThe reason of why this word is not even countable is so beyond me.Aren't words supposedly countable
Words are countable, but not a whole style of speaking. "slang" doesn't mean a single word of slang. "slang" is all the words of slang considered as a style or "register" of speaking.
maelstromOr ar
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CalifJim"slang" is all the words of slang considered as a style or "register" of speaking.
Well then, do you usually say"SLANG WORDS" instead of just "SLANG" ?
From my experience, that wasn't the case though:)
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maelstromWell then, do you usually say"SLANG WORDS" instead of just "SLANG" ?
No. I just say "slang". ("slang words" is OK, though, as a second choice, especially if you want to talk about particular words that come from slang.)

I also say "garbage", not "garbage things".
I also say "furniture", not "furniture items".
I also say "cattle", no
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