Military slang: Origin, structure and semantics

Abstract

The humankind has been facing different wars and military conflicts during its existence and development. In the current globalized world, the role of the military is very essential and obvious. Furthermore, military slang in English is of utmost significance due to the leading role of the military from various English-speaking countries. The aim of the following research is to identify and analyze military slangy words and phrases in English; to create the military slang phrases and words corpus; to make their semantic and structural characteristics analyses; and to explain their practical usage context. The methods applied in this research include linguistic analysis, which was utilized in the selection of military slang words and phrases applied in modern English; the word-building analysis, which helped in determining semantics and structural features of military words and phrases utilized in the English language; and linguo-cultural and socio-cultural analyses that allowed giving explanations of the UK and US military traditions, cultures, and vocabulary specific features. The specific characteristics of military slang are dynamism, exaggerated expression, broad usage by the military, and general familiarity. The military slang vocabulary units have the same formation ways typical of general English vocabulary, including meanings transfer (metaphor), abbreviation and acronyms, blending, affixation, conversion, shortening, and compounding.