Strategies of creating slang expressions (Munro 1989)

  1. Use of metaphors:

    English:
    He is bombed/ripped/blasted/shredded; It's bugging me;

    Korean:
    yôlla [yôl-na(-ke)] 'very [Lit. to the extent that heat comes out]
    yol-bat-ta 'to get angry' [Lt. to receive heat]
    philûm-i kkûnki-ta 'to black out' [the film was disconnected]

  2. Acronymy:

    English:
    f.o; lol; M.O.S.; S.O.L.; BTW

    Korean:
    myôngthoe
    <myôngye thoecik 'honorable retirement'
    yô-ch'in < ja chingu 'girl firend' , nam-chin < namja chingu 'boyfriend'
    wan-so-nam < wanjô(hi) sojunghan namja 'a totally precious man'
    pe-phû pesûtû (best) phûlentû (friend)
    mitû < mikuk lama (drama) 'American TV drammar'


  3. Clipping:

    English:
    def.; teach; prof.; Fab. five; vegi; prep; wait a sec.;

  4. Compounding, blending:

    English:
    brain-fart, dimbo, gork

    Korean:
    tam-t'aengi for tamim sônsaeng-nim 'home room teacher'
    pôm-saeng-i for mopôm-saeng 'a model student'

  5. Popular culture:

    English:
    magoo, McFly, Wilma, I have missile lock on her; scoob
    Adonis; mc2

    Korean:
    chatonyô/chatonam < chakaun tosi-ûy yônca/namca 'chic modern woman/man' (Scret Garden, 2010)
    nûkkim anikka 'no need to explain' [since I know the feeling] (From Gag Concert)
    tangûn-i-ci 'of course' [It is a carrot]

  6. Word play:

    tangnha-ji 'Of course, it is a matter of fact > tangûn-i-ci [Lit. It is a carrot]' > mal-pap-i-ci [Lit. horse meal]'

    ccantoli [Lit. a salty person]' > wang-sokûm [Lit. king salt] ''miser'

    pangk'ok (Bankok)< pang-e kkok [Lit. stay put in the room]

    tongnama(South-East Asia) < tongne-e nam-a 'staying in the local'


  7. Revival of standard words

    strumpet, bug, inebriated