Abstract: According to the related research of American slang, this thesis takes some parts of the typical lines in the popular US drama Desperate Housewives as language materials to analyze a series of specific features of American Slang, and aims to show its important role in American society and people's daily lives. In addition, through a detailed analysis of these lines sentence, the author describes three typical features of American Slang in the Desperate Housewives: 1. strengthen links within the group 2. shape figures and reflect the character 3. express characters’ emotions. This paper mainly adopted the case study method to describe the features and functions of American slang in detail. Through the analysis of American slang and language features of the US drama Desperate Housewives, this paper is of great help for English language learning and understanding. What’s more, the analysis of this paper also helps to avoid the American slang intercultural communication pragmatic failure, and to improve English learners' pragmatic competence.

Keywords: American slang; language features; social function; Desperate Housewives

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction.1

2. American Slang1

2.1 Definition 

2.2 Origin and Development

3. Characteristics and Functions of American Slang in Desperate Housewives.4

3.1 Basic Introduction and Research Significance of Desperate Housewives 

3.2 Characteristics of American Slang 

3.2.1 Colloquialism

3.2.2 Conciseness and Acronyms

3.2.3 Humor and Novelty

3.3 Functions of American Slang 

3.3.1 Strengthening Internal Links

3.3.2 Character Creating and Identity Reflects

3.3.3 Expression of Feelings

4. Conclusion.11

Bibliography12

Acknowledgements.13