International Journal of Language & Linguistics

The Evolution of English Slang among Georgian Youth: A Study of Linguistic Hybridity and Cultural Identity
Giorgi Lekiashvili

Abstract
This paper focuses on the development of English slang among speakers in Georgia from 1990 to the present. The study examines the sociolinguistic aspects of the use of English slang among Georgian youths and the process of incorporation of slang into the Georgian youth culture, with special reference to the distinction between slang and barbarisms. This paper also incorporates issues related to globalization, the use of digital media, recent educational interventions, and the effect of Gen Z in bringing slang into mainstream usage. Quantitative questionnaires, qualitative interviews, and social media content analysis are employed to investigate the patterns of slang usage, frequently used slang, and the social-cultural factors that enable its use. It is established that informal Georgian speech is experiencing further Anglicization, especially regarding the usage of English slang by younger generations of Georgians, particularly urbanites. The study touches on language policy and conservation.

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