From sports to everyday communication: a study on idioms and specialised language.

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the use of specialised language in communication, particularly focusing on sports idioms and the way they transition from being specific to that field to being used in everyday language. The first chapter dives into the concept of LSP, an acronym for Language for Specific Purposes, subsequently analysing its uses and users, as well as the concepts of identity and role that are associated with using a certain type of language. The topic then shifts from specialised language in general to jargon and slang, focusing on their formation, utility and roles when compared to mainstream forms of speech. In the second chapter the focus is on sport related discourse and the correlation between sports and professional identity, discussing the aspect of status and its meaning when choosing a particular way of expressing a concept. A section of chapter two is then dedicated to the most recognised jargon terms in sport, citing characteristics and examples. In the third and final chapter, I discuss the use of specialised terms in baseball, providing an analysis of their transition from that field to that of everyday communication, with examples and citations from articles and newspapers, as well as an overview of the most common fields in which those terms are now utilised.