Is there a word for when people use academic language to explain slang? For example, an author writes "Idiomatically, 'knowing what time it is' is a way of expressing the ability to code-switch, knowing in what situation it is useful to switch from decent to street styles" (Collins, 2008)
Responses (1)
No, but in the case you describe I would be happy to make up a phrase: "using jargon to explain slang".
I got a wonderful demonstration in a bible study class. The teacher read 1 Samuel 24:3 "And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet." He stopped and said "You know what that means? That's a figure of speech, euphemism. It says he went in to cover his feet, that means he went in there to wash his hands." He used one euphemism to explain another!