Maciej Widawski is a professor of linguistics specializing in lexical variation and its description. He has conducted research on slang since the early 1990s and has written extensively on the subject. His recent books include The Dictionary of City Names in American Slang (2011) and Yinglish (2012).

'This book fills a real need for an up-to-date, substantive, scholarly book on African American slang. The glossary itself is impressive, and the detailed description that precedes it, with discussions of the forms, meanings, themes and functions of slang words, is invaluable.' John Rickford, Stanford University, California

• Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Foundations; 2. Forms; 3. Meanings; 4. Themes; 5. Functions; Conclusion; Glossary A-Z; Bibliography; Sources; Index.

Maciej Widawski is a professor of linguistics specializing in lexical variation and its description. He has conducted research on slang since the early 1990s and has written extensively on the subject. His recent books include The Dictionary of City Names in American Slang (2011) and Yinglish (2012).

'This book fills a real need for an up-to-date, substantive, scholarly book on African American slang. The glossary itself is impressive, and the detailed description that precedes it, with discussions of the forms, meanings, themes and functions of slang words, is invaluable.' John Rickford, Stanford University, California

• Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Foundations; 2. Forms; 3. Meanings; 4. Themes; 5. Functions; Conclusion; Glossary A-Z; Bibliography; Sources; Index.