This thesis is based on theoretical findings in the area of developmental psychology and focuses on the period of adolescence. The aim of the thesis is the description of specific features of adolescence as a developmental period typically associated with certain types of behaviour and typical language usage, mainly in the area of vocabulary. The thesis aims at linking description of intellectual development with linguistic alasysis to specify norms of communication within the youth subculture. Theoretical claims are verified by data from empirical research in the form of a survey and linguistic analyses of both audio and video recordings and samples of written communication between adolescents. The thesis accentuates the term youth subculture and puts forward that one of its main characteristics is a specific area of vocabulary which helps to strengthen peer relationships
