Considered in this article are the functional values attributed to the use of the
colloquial language in non-typical, non-standard situations, in which this language
is not anticipated. Analysis is applied to the intentions of the speaker, who chooses,
in a non-colloquial, public situation, the colloquial element as the most appropriate
for the needs of communication. These intentions may be perceived as: 1) identifying oneself with one’s own social group, 2) maintaining one’s own
identity, 3) building up one’s own image, 4) offering opposition to the official
language, 5) an invitation to a game of words, The use of colloquialisms leads
to enhancing of the persuasive effect of the utterance and of removing the
asymmetry in the social status as between the speaker and the collective audience
