Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) Practice Exam

What is typically a feature of slang?

1. It is universally understood.

2. It is used in academic writing.

3. It often has a regional or cultural basis.

4. It is highly formal.

The correct answer is: It often has a regional or cultural basis.

Slang is characterized by its informal and often localized usage, making it a reflection of particular cultural or regional identities. This linguistic phenomenon evolves quickly and can vary significantly from one community to another, often serving as a means of establishing group identity or solidarity. By utilizing slang, speakers often express ideas, emotions, or experiences that resonate within a specific cultural context, highlighting its basis in regional or cultural characteristics. Other features of slang, such as its exclusion from formal contexts like academic writing or its lack of universal understanding, reinforce the idea that it is deeply tied to particular social groups. Slang's informal nature contrasts with highly formal language, which is typically standardized and widely accepted in various settings. Thus, the emphasis on the regional or cultural basis of slang captures its essence as a dynamic and evolving form of communication.