Teenglish – Lost in Translation

by vix on January 6, 2010

An actual text conversation between my daughter (age 13 – going on 30) the Dark Princess and I (MMM) 
MMM: where are you?
DP: @ Jade
MMM: How are you getting home?
DP: k
MMM: K what? Sorry I didn’t get your last message. Could u try again plse
DP: Soz
MMM: Pardon? What time will u b back?
DP: 5 k?
MMM: It’ll b dark then
DP: Meh. Idc
MMM: what? Could you get some1 to walk home with you plse (notice my abbreviation of someone and please. Cool eh!)
DP: srs. W.e
MMM: I DO NOT UNDERSTAND U. R U getting some1 to walk u? (and again the abbreviation of Are you and someone. I’m getting it, I’m getting it….)
DP: kk. L8r
MMM: WHO IS K??
There was no reply, but the Dark Princess did arrive home at five. She was not accompanied by Kay, in fact I don’t think she knows a Kay.
I love languages. I did a degree in English Literature, I know enough French to be chatted up in Paris (by a Frenchman) and I knew words of 8 different languages by the time I was 5. But I really am not up with it when it comes to learning the lingo. I don’t want my kids to sound like they brought up in da hood! I have no wish whatsoever for them to hide under hoodies and pierce their bits with sparkly thingies. Sadly, I admit I am sounding like my mother.
You have to understand that my knowledge of teen speak is a little dusty. I’m still back in the day when my friend Robyn returned from London and demonstrated her worldliness by peppering her conversation with ‘BRILL’. I understand technical jargon particularly the IT sort. I’ve been known to ask someone (under my breath) to RTFM! And I’ve been known to ROFL! Or even messily PMSL.
This dirty mouth of mine has even exclaimed in moments of high stress: WTF!
But what I don’t understand is why ‘kk’ is an abbreviation for ‘ok’!!!!!!
Frankly I bristle at being known as ‘the rentz’ and I’ve not yet got my head around the concept that phat is actually a good thing. I came across a wee translation for those of us who struggle to communicate with our monosyllabic grunting, RSI afflicted teens. Consider it a public service announcement.
Apparently, according to 2000 teens on the happening social website Habbo Hotel these were:
The top 25 “teenglish” buzzwords for 2009
1/ diss – Disrespect
 2/ fail – expression of disapproval for something or when someone does fail at something. Sometimes spelt with a ph and epic fail (or epic phail) is the highest form of failing.
3/ ftw – for the win, used to show enthusiasm for something, eg. “kittens FTW”
4/ hai – Hi
5/ idc – I dont care
6/ idk – I dont know
7/ ily – I love you
8/ irl – In real life
9/ jks – Jokes
10/ k or kk – Okay
11// meh – expression of indifference
12/ noob – A new person, also newbie, often used to make fun of someone you don’t like
13/ pwn, pwned, pwnage – To “own someone”, beat them at a game or teach them a lesson
14/ plz – Please
15/ props – Proper respect
16 /rents, rentz or rentals – Parents
17/ rofl – Roll on the floor laughing
18/ soz – Sorry
19/ srs – Serious, seriously
20/ sup – What’s up? What’s happening?
21/ tbh – To be honest
22/ totes – Totally
23/ ty – Thank you
24/ w.e – Whatever
25/ zomg – expression of amazement or shock at something even more amazing than omg (Oh My God)

NB/ Thanks to New Zealand’s number 1 news source Stuff for inspiration.

I also guest blog for Mad Manic Mamas – we’re all about the joys of parenting teenagers. Come and have a look over here www.madmanicmamas.blogspot.com

Tagged as: Uncategorized

  • Heather

    zomg. I feel really old now. i get that it helps to abbreviate words for text speak but how is kk and abbreviation of ok? Or hai – hi?Kids eh.

  • Heather

    zomg. I feel really old now. i get that it helps to abbreviate words for text speak but how is kk and abbreviation of ok? Or hai – hi?

    Kids eh.

  • Jo Beaufoix

    Heh heh, it's pretty similar in the Uk. My two habven't hit teens yet but having worked in secondary I recognized some of these. I'm a bit gormless though as I didn't get one of yours 'RTFM' so you are way cooler than me. :D

  • Jo Beaufoix

    Heh heh, it's pretty similar in the Uk. My two habven't hit teens yet but having worked in secondary I recognized some of these. I'm a bit gormless though as I didn't get one of yours 'RTFM' so you are way cooler than me. :D

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Heather, I hadn't heard of that one either. Jo: Read The F-ing Manual! ;-p I mean that's what it stands for, that's not a directive to you!

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Heather, I hadn't heard of that one either. Jo: Read The F-ing Manual! ;-p I mean that's what it stands for, that's not a directive to you!

  • Mummy mania

    Oh dear god! Mine are still aged 4 and under so all this awaits me. will you update in say, 9 years time?? BTW (see what I did there?), love your blog. Yo. (is that last bit cool or just The Wire?)

  • Mummy mania

    Oh dear god! Mine are still aged 4 and under so all this awaits me. will you update in say, 9 years time?? BTW (see what I did there?), love your blog. Yo. (is that last bit cool or just The Wire?)

  • Expat mum

    LMAO. DO you know that one?It's pretty bad for me here too, as I don't know what my teens are talking about when they use words and are standing in front of me. The worst thing is they often speak the text words too! Grrr!

  • Expat mum

    LMAO. DO you know that one?
    It's pretty bad for me here too, as I don't know what my teens are talking about when they use words and are standing in front of me. The worst thing is they often speak the text words too! Grrr!

  • Mummy mania

    BTW (There i go again, being all cool and everything), I've just found your blog and tagged you a High Five meme. Love your style.

  • Mummy mania

    BTW (There i go again, being all cool and everything), I've just found your blog and tagged you a High Five meme. Love your style.

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Expat and Mummy Mania, but MM quick q, what's a High Five meme. (*looking all embarrassed*)

  • vegemitevix

    Thanks Expat and Mummy Mania, but MM quick q, what's a High Five meme. (*looking all embarrassed*)

  • Mud in the City

    I feel past it.But if anyone decided to declare their feelings for me by saying "ily" I wouldn't be all that impressed!

  • Mud in the City

    I feel past it.

    But if anyone decided to declare their feelings for me by saying "ily" I wouldn't be all that impressed!

  • vegemitevix

    Dare I suggest it Mud, but it the object of your affection did say ily he could be considered something of a 'toyboy'! ;-p

  • vegemitevix

    Dare I suggest it Mud, but it the object of your affection did say ily he could be considered something of a 'toyboy'! ;-p

  • FAMILY AFFAIRS

    Brilliant. Thx – i needed that list – love conversation with your daughter. SO the same as me x

  • FAMILY AFFAIRS

    Brilliant. Thx – i needed that list – love conversation with your daughter. SO the same as me x

  • Sandy Calico

    I will never understand any of that!I've tagged you over at mine:http://sandycalico.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-happy-joy-joy.html

  • Sandy Calico

    I will never understand any of that!
    I've tagged you over at mine:
    http://sandycalico.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-happy-joy-joy.html

  • Metropolitan Mum

    I hope SMS will be out of fashion when my daughter starts to have a phone. Otherwise I'd be lost. Constantly.Great blog, btw :-)

  • Metropolitan Mum

    I hope SMS will be out of fashion when my daughter starts to have a phone. Otherwise I'd be lost. Constantly.

    Great blog, btw :-)

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