Abstract:
The study deals with culture of language in Slovak song lyrics aproximately from 1950s up to present day. It declares unsufficient interest of linguistics in this area and a methodological problem concerning axiology of song lyrics which pose two approaches to language, systematic and pragmatic, with different approaches to language norm. Analysing examples of particular lyrics, it states the shift from the sentimental character of lyrics of 1950s to understanding of lyrics as a message from the late 1960s when greater engagement of poets in writing lyrics resulted in their higher literary and language value. The revolution in 1989 brought either diversification of views on standard language and its use in the shape of rapid development of sociolinguistics, or liberalisation of language in song lyrics with the higher representation of non-standard layers that helped to decrease their overall value.