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Whassup? Popspeak Is More Than Buttah - It's Da Bomb!

© Kevin Reed

Just when you thought it was safe to assume that your teenager might make it through these difficult, formative years without any of the youthful quirks that drive parents batty, you're suddenly faced with the prospect of needing a linguist just to carry on a simple conversation with your child. The proper english he or she left home with just this morning seems to have given way to some bizarre lingo that leaves you shaking your head in bewilderment.

Not to worry. The kids are alright, and no different from their parents. Times may change, but popspeak - slang - has been a part of every generation. It fosters a sense of identification and bonding among peers, separating from their parent's mainstream.

What was once "Groovy!" or "Far out!" has evolved into "Da bomb!" or "Sweet!"

Some terms, however, remain timeless in their use. "Cool!", for example, still means, well, cool.

Slang still isn't the exclusive domain of the young. Chances are your workplace teems with occupational terminology. How's things down on the cube farm? The vernacular for an office space made up of row after row of cubicles. Prairie dogging? peering over the top of your cubicle to check out what your co-workers are doing.

Ever feel like you are swimming upstream, getting nowhere fast? you're having a "salmon day".If you happen to be exploited and oppressed by your boss, consider yourself "dilberted" - A reference to the popular comic strip character.

So, if you wanna be a playa (hot shot)and be down with (be in on) the latest slanguage, get stoked (excited), and check this mint (cool) primer -

Jiggy: stylish, awesome, the greatest

Flossin': showing off, looking good

Jing-ling: money. As in change "jingling" in one's pocket

All that: exceptional

All that and a bag of chips: more than exceptional

Butta: smooth, cool

cheese wagon: school bus

Dawg: a friend (guys only)

Diesel: a buff, well-toned body

I got jet: time for me to leave

Chickenhead: trampy or promiscuous female

Playa: promiscuous male

Ranker: someone who wimps out, a coward

Ranker: an undesireable person

Hottie: a good-looking boy or girl

Taxin': too expensive

What's the 411?: what's the deal?

Beast: ugly boy or girl

Wildebeast: very ugly boy or girl

Shorty: affectionate term for a girlfriend or younger sibling

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