Om slangudtryks flygtighed<br>– i sproget og i ordbøgerne

Resumé

This paper explores the treatment of slang vocabulary in Danish dictionaries – from the first appearance of a slang dictionary in 1866 to the latest app from 2012. The term slang can be defined as vocabulary of a distinct colloquial style, typically but not necessarily formed through the application of meaning transfer and other creative processes and used deliberately instead of an unmarked synonym by a speaker in order to achieve a certain effect. In particular, attention is devoted to the life of slang over time as the viability of a sample of 586 entries (the letters K and T) from the two first editions of the early slang dictionary is investigated in dictionaries from the mid-20th century to present-day dictionaries, both dedicated slang dictionaries and general dictionaries. The study reveals expressions that were passing fads, as well as many that had staying power: 25-50% of the entries of the early slang dictionaries were also present in the modern ones.