W.'s theory of the evolution of new slang and standard senses in English content words is based on four hypotheses: novel standard senses develop through particularizations, metaphorical and metonymic extensions, the working out of implications; a new set of critical features develops when we match a word with a new set of referents; novel standard meanings serve to label previously unnamed classes of referents, novel slang senses to replace designators of standard vocabulary; slang senses develop from standard senses as novel standard senses develop from old standard senses.