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Abstract Modern American slang is a non-written language innovation and the crystal of history and culture. Slang is an objective existence which is often used by many people, and has become an integral component of the language and an important communication tool. But it often leaves a vulgar, frivolous impression to people. In fact, as a communication tool for people, it can not be regarded as good or bad. American slang develops rapidly, which has a strong cultural flavor as a special carrier. This paper elaborates the reason of American slang existence from the angles of history, society, Psychology and personality of Americans. On the other hand, this paper analyzes the existence value of American slang from the aspects of refraction function and usage function. The slang refracts the discrepancy of social identity, the trend of oral English and the life of ordinary people. At the same time, it refracts a kind of attitude by which the people treat the reality. Its usage function includes overcoming the communicative barrier and provoking the vigor of language. 摘要现代美国俚语是一种非书面性语言的创新，是历史和文化的结晶，俚语是客观存在的被许多人经常使用的语言，是词汇中不可或缺的组成部分，已成为及其重要的交际工具。但它常常留给人粗俗，轻佻的印象。实际上，作为人们交际工具的语言，本身没有阶级性。美国俚语发展迅速，它作为美国文化一种特殊的载体，具有浓厚的文化色彩。本文将从历史，社会，心理以及美国人的性格特征等方面分析了美国俚语产生的原因。另一方面，又将从俚语的反映功能和使用功能来阐述美国俚语存在的价值。它反映了一种现实包括语言的身份差异，英语口语的发展方向，普通民众的真实生活。同时它还反映了一种态度：人们通过语言而表明自己对现实的态度。它的使用功能则包括了在使用中克服语言交际障碍，激发语言的活力。 Introduction In America, more and more people are partial to using slang in their daily life communication and writing technique. In the past, people’s impression of slang may be that slang is rude, dirty, and indecent; but today, as a highly colloquial speech which has become the most colorful and vivid member of the family of languages. “The vocabulary of an ordinary America generally is estimated at 10,000---20,000 words…according to my conservative estimation about 2,000 words are slang.”(Chapman, R.ed.4) The number shows the important status of slang in American English, therefore we should eliminate the traditional bias of slang. Slang is popular in America because of its freshness, lifelikeness, humor, and it is an effective way of communication; at the same time, it also carries strong cultural implications of America because most slang words come from each sub-cultural group, which reflect their actual life. “it is impossible to acquire a thorough knowledge of English（or of any other language, for that matter）without being familiar with slang and vulgarism. Whoever is uninitiated…will be at a loss to understand many of the masterpieces of English literature? Nay…he will scarcely be able even to understand an English newspaper.” (Partridge.73)As it were, an English learner can not communicate with foreigners at their pleasure without much understanding in American slang. From this point, slang is a bridge for English learners to make up the cultural gap, so we should know and treat slang with a correct attitude. There is no such thing as good or bad, right or wrong in language. As a special form of language, its existence is a kind of outcome of culture and history. As a highly colloquial speech, it is especially effective on casual and intimate occasions. The attitudes toward slang are also very contradictory among common people especially scholars. Nowadays, more and more people begin their research on slang for its widespread. In this paper, the author is trying to analyze the origins and functions of American slang from various aspec