The function and position of slang within the lexical structure of contemporary English

The article under consideration is devoted to the peculiarities and functioning of slang in the material of the American TV series “Friends”. Relying on the theoretical foundations of modern linguistics, the authors identify slang as an unstable layer of specific vocabulary belonging to a particular social or professional environment. The article identifies and systematizes the slang peculiarities of communicative orientation that present certain difficulties in the perception and understanding of the live spoken language of American youth for Ukrainian youth. The media, movies, music, and literature reflect the active use of slang in communication. Studying the semantics and functioning of slang units contributes to understanding colloquial speech, everyday phrases that Americans use in communication. The authors substantiate the need for a theoretical and lexicographic study of slang, which has recently become a primary means of communication among young people. A set of scientific research methods, including the method of comparison, the method of description, the method of generalization, and the method of systematic and figurative analysis, is used in the study.