Digital dictionary helps parents translate youngsters’ onlin

Update 12/06/17 @ 22:30
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/digital-dictionary-helps-parents-translate-youngsters-online-argot-5t2s3jtzlg9

Valentine Low
September 11 2013, 1:01am,
The Times

Young people, and those who spend much of their lives online, may be
aware that jelly is not just a wobbly pudding, that swag has nothing
to do with burglars and beach does not always refer to a sandy place
by the seaside.

Their parents, however, most likely do not: just as they have no idea
what derp means, let alone butters or jank.

According to a survey, nearly two thirds of parents admit that they
have a poor grasp of the language their children use online. Half do
not regularly monitor their child’s online activity.

An online digital dictionary has now been launched to help parents
who have no idea what their children are saying when they are talking
to their friends online. It tells them, for instance, that dece means
decent, jank means gross and butters is ugly, while naughty and savage
are both words meaning good. Jelly is jealous, tekkers means skills
and swag is confidence or style.

Among the myriad terms of abuse there is beach for bitch, derp for
brain-damaged and prep for stuck-up, while words for stupid include
blond, noob, dub, tool and basic.

For a slacker generation, there are of course a plethora of terms to
signify that the speaker could not really care less, including lowe
that and bov. The word cool boasts one of the larger lists of
synonyms, including reem, jock, player, wicked, sick and fly.

The dictionary has been set up by Disney’s Club Penguin, an online
world with games and activities for children. Club Penguin is
launching a campaign to teach online safety, It Starts With You,
featuring Una Healy of The Saturdays.

Claire Hardaker, Professor of Linguistics at Lancaster University,
has translated passages from Romeo and Juliet and Oliver Twist into
the language young people use online. She said: "Children have always
been wonderful innovators who delight in creating new words — in the
60s and 70s, hip, whizzo and fab, in the 80s and 90s, gnarly and
phat — and with young people increasingly communicating online,
soaking up dozens of new words, slang language is evolving at
lightning speed, particularly words of praise or insult.

"Research suggests the ability to learn new language after our teens
is drastically reduced, so it can be harder for parents to be attuned
to the linguistic evolution that their children are actively driving
forward. This can result in a mismatch between what they think their
children are saying and what their language actually means."

Lucy Woodward, Interactive Live Services Director at Club Penguin,
said: "Club Penguin was able to develop this list of words because
our moderators have their fingers on the pulse of popular culture.
As a parent, I know keeping up with my kids’ ever-evolving vocabulary
can be a challenge."

Oliver Twist, ancient and modern

"Please, sir, I want some more."

The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He
gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds;
and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were
paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.

"What!" said the master at length, in a faint voice.

"Please, sir," replied Oliver, "I want some more."

The master aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with the ladle; pinioned
him in his arms; and shrieked aloud for the beadle.

The board were sitting in solemn conclave, when Mr Bumble rushed
into the room in great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in
the high chair, said: "Mr Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver
Twist has asked for more!"

WorkhouseWaif (Oliver Twist) published a new blog-post entitled
"Worst. Day. Ever."

OMG… crabbiest dy EVR. @dnr hd 2 ask th WkHs Mstr 4sum mr gruel.
He’s a fat dub jock & strd @me lyk I wz a n00b. Thn he sd "lolwhut?!"
so I copypastad & he wnt totally outers, whackd me w/ th ladl, n scrmd
4 mr b. whn mr b hrd, he wnt str8 2th brd n wuz lyk, "omg, mr l, OT
askd 4more!"x