The findings of modern linguistics have contributed considerably to the solution of some problems of the social dialects, especially of slangs. Despite the wide thematic range of this topic, this paper tries to constitute an integrated whole concerning not only the results of the research of slang, but also the bibliography.
The attentive reader will easily detect two basic trends reflected in this paper: the desire to present information about the methodology and about its results as reflected in the bibliography.
The methods -usually connected with each other- are similar to those used in dialectology. Two proceedings might be regarded as specific for the research of slang, namely the interest in nicknames and anoikonyma occurring in the conditions of slang.
FRANTISEK OBERPFALCER (1890-1973) may be regarded as "father" of the Czech research in slang. After 1945, the research has been concentrated in four centres: Ostrava (since about 1950: VÁCLAV KRÍSTEK and then JAROSLAV HUBÁCEK), Plzen (since 1957: LUMÍR KLIMES), Ceské Budéjovice (since 1983: ALENA JAKLOVÁ) and Banská Bystrica (the Slovak Republic: since 1983: PAVOL ODALOS). Slang in its wide connections with sociolinguistics is being studied by JIRÍ NEKVAPIL and JAN CHLOUPEK (Reader in Czech Sociolinguistics, Praha 1986).
In this paper, 69 slangs are mentioned. Of course, the interest of the scholars in these slangs varies considerably: the slang of students, railwaymen and miners may be regarded as most attractive.
It should be mentioned that from the seventies, an important role in the slang-research may be found in the international conferences on slang and argot, organized by the Teachers Training College in Plzen (1977, 1980, 1984, 1984, 1995).
The list of literature mentions 430 references concerning slang (1920-1997). The deep scientific interest of the Czech and Slovak scholars in this branch of sociolinguistics is obvious. This interest may be seen also in the increasing participation in the conferences organized in Plzen.