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Types of Speech Standard usage includes those words and expressions understood, used, and accepted by a majority of the speakers of alanguage in any situation regardless of the level of formality. As such, thesewords and expressions are well defined and listed in standarddictionaries. Colloquialisms, on the other hand, are familiar words and idiomsthat are understood by almost all speakers of a language and used ininformal speech or writing, but not considered appropriate for more formalsituations. Almost all idiomatic expressions are colloquial language. Slang,however, refers to words and expressions understood by a large number ofspeakers but not accepted as good, formal usage by the majority. Colloquial expressions and even slang may be found in standard dictionaries butwill be so identified. Both colloquial usage and slangare more common in speech than in writing. Colloquialspeech often passes into standard speech. Some slang alsopasses into standard speech, but other slang expressions enjoy momentarypopularity followed by obscurity. In some cases, the majority neveraccepts certain slang phrases but nevertheless retainsthem in their collective memories. Every generation seems to require itsown set of words to describe familiar objects and events. It has beenpointed out by a number of linguists that three cultural conditions arenecessary for the creation of a large body of slang expressions. First, theintroduction and acceptance of new objects and situations in the society; second, a diverse population with a large number of subgroups;third, association among the subgroups and the majority population | 
