Af-suuq

Af-suuq is slang, an informal variety of speech used by particular groups within society—youth, professionals, or inhabitants of a specific locality. It may consist of newly coined words or ordinary words assigned new meanings. It generally lies outside the register of formal writing and appears primarily in spoken language, social media, and songs.

Af-suuq varies across languages and periods. A slang term current today may fade within ten years or enter general usage of the language. For this reason, linguists regard af-suuq as an indicator of how language changes over time.

Formation

Slang words are formed in various ways. One is semantic shift: an existing word is given a new meaning. Another is shortening, such as cutting a syllable from a longer word. There is also borrowing—words taken from another language and adapted to the sound system of the source language. Phonetic patterns also occur, such as rhyming and wordplay.

Social function

Af-suuq serves two major purposes. First, it marks group identity: someone who knows the slang terms is seen as belonging to the group. Second, it excludes outsiders—those not part of the group do not understand what is being said. Some professional and criminal groups use coded speech to conceal meaning.

Distinction from related forms

Af-suuq and media

The Internet and social media have accelerated the spread of af-suuq. A word originating in a small group can reach the entire language within days. Similarly, mainstream media—film, music, and broadcasts—have exposed af-suuq to large audiences, shortening the period during which a word remains the exclusive property of its originating group.