Slang Expressions as Reflection of Identity among Residents of of Lagos State, Nigeria

This study examines the use of slang expressions as a reflection of identity among the residents of Agege Local Government of Lagos State, Nigeria. The study looks at who use slang expressions, how slang expressions spread, the dominant communication uses of slang expressions, and ends for which slang users tend to achieve. Field observation method was adopted. The researcher made use of covert observer and/or complete observer. Maximum variation sampling was used to pick the following sites: Alagba, Dopemu, and Agege garages; Dopemu, Asade, Alagba and Agege markets; Isale Oja and Pen Cinema. Findings show that: slang expressions are developed through music and home movies, television and radio independent presenters, and other local languages; slang expressions spread through individual, group, media and community levels, with little variance; slang expressions used as synonyms and those used in communicating anger take dominance and those used in communicating affection are least used; to exclude others from conversations, to avoid the consequences of certain actions, and to be brief, are some of the ends slangstars intend to achieve. Furthermore, it was concluded that sexually related slang expressions are biased against the female folk.