YOUTH SLANG AS A SOCIAL CODE: ITS ROLES AND METHODS OF FORMATION

This article explores the various functions and distinctive features of slang, which enables speakers to express a wide range of communicative intentions. Beyond serving as a tool for maintaining privacy in communication, slang also operates as a means of linguistic economy, a method for generating new concepts, and a channel for emotional expression, among other purposes. The study highlights the factors that contribute to the widespread use of this non-standard linguistic form and its role in the continuous emergence of neologisms within national language corpora. The relevance of the research lies in the growing interest in the processes of non-standard word formation and the impact of sociolinguistic factors on these developments. The article examines key mechanisms that contribute to the expansion of youth slang vocabulary, including semantic, phonological, and grammatical word formation methods, as well as antonomasia and borrowings from foreign languages.