Youth slang as a factor in the development of students' linguistic competence in Russia and English-speaking countries

Abstract

Youth slang is an integral part of the linguistic and cultural space and has a significant impact on the formation of students' communication skills. The relevance of the research is determined by the intensity of language changes among young people and the need to develop effective educational strategies. The aim of the work is to identify the role of youth slang in the development of students' linguistic competence in Russia and English–speaking countries. Tasks include: 1) analysis of the functions and structure of youth slang; 2) comparison of Russian and English youth sociolects; 3) assessing the impact of slang on students' language skills; 4) developing recommendations for integrating slang into the educational process. The methodological basis of the research combines sociolinguistic, comparative and statistical approaches. The empirical basis was based on the results of a survey of 450 Russian and 380 British and American students aged 18-24 years. It was found that the use of slang positively correlates with the overall level of language proficiency (r=0.68; p<0.01). The common functions of slang in Russian and English are identified: identification, expressive, and human. Differences in educational methods and thematic dominants are identified. The expediency of including slang elements in educational materials for the development of sociolinguistic competence is substantiated. The results obtained are significant for optimizing linguistic and didactic practices in higher education.