American Slang for RW's

[tim 360]

Looking for a book on American Slang for a friend here.  Her English is very good,  but slang causes confusion and she is never sure if she just received a compliment or and insult.  Any kind of primer for English speaking RW's to help speed up their understanding of slang which is an ever changing landscape.  26 and been here for a year,  but slang still throws her.  Thanks, Tim

[catzenmouse]

Check with your local library. I saw a book last time we were there  about American slang. If you are looking to buy then check Amazon and  if you find something go to half.com to see if they have it for less.

Ken

[ConnerVT]

Is it really "slang" that's giving her difficulty, or 'phrasal verbs'?

Slang is really dependent on culture and activity.  High school kids into computer games use a completely different vocabulary of slang than crack dealers in the 'hood, than do the yuppies skiing up at Stowe.

For my wife, it was (is) phrasal verbs that cause the most confusion.  Check out this website, and see if it's any help for her:

http://www.eslcafe.com/pv/

They have some slang also:

http://www.eslcafe.com/slang/

[vlxv]

I would tend to agree with Conner. Slang is not the problem. I hope she  is enrolled in English classes at the local college? Do you converse  with her in standard English? Once someone is comfortable with the  standard language, when some strange word appears it is just a matter  of asking the speaker to explain. That way, if it is really slang, like  "Sweet!", they can explain it. A couple years ago I asked my teenage  daughter what "Word!" meant, and she explained clearly in language I  could understand.

Hang loose (that one's probably prehistoric),

David

[Jet]

A book my wife found helpful was:

American Idioms

and some phrases just for fun

ISBN 076410807-7      from:Barron's

@$8.95

 

[tim 360]

Thanks Conner.  Phrasal has alot to do with it.  More than our slang.  Thanks for the links. 

"Sweet",  she has no problems there.  But a phrase like,  "Going over", or "going down"  "getting over" or "Bitchin" said to her would make her wonder.  "Cool" is understood.  Emnem diction is not quite grasped.  Skiing and snowboard lingo she is getting slowly by immersion.

Then again we shorten words like "perp".  Native speakers know the meaning,  but it was not taught at her school.

Sure vixv,  all standard English,  she does not need school,  but her English is more of a precise proper Kings English and she wants slang and our phrasal lingo in her toolbox.  She was a Russian/English interperter,  but for biz to biz translations.  Not native speaker street talk.

Sarcasm is a prob too.  Alot has to do with just how something is said.  She has come a long way and I'm sure within a year she will have the phrasals and slangs down much better. 

[philb]

I bought this for a woman I was seeing a few years ago.  She taught secondary school level English in Eastern Ukraine.  I remember she and her students had a lot of fun with it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0844242101/qid=1137728720/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-3602853-1639215?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[aikorob]

Philb,

I second you on this one. I picked this up for N. last year--she said it helped. She speaks English well, but she wanted to learn American. I've noticed a lot of ladies have problems with our vernacular.

[tim 360]

Thanks for your advice,  Jet, Philb and Akirob,  Got to order some books this weekend,  Tim