bizounce. Laters.
CeCee:
Translation—Hello. How are you? I really like that shirt you’re wearing. Looks
great. Well, I
should get going. See you around.
Lucy: Webster, the
dictionary dude, might not recognize tween speak as an official language, but
it absolutely, unequivocally is. You dig?
CeCee: That said,
be warned—parents and teachers may frown when you’re slinging the slang around.
But just remind yourself that talking tween isn’t just a contrived affectation
but an absolute necessity. After all, every generation has its own way of
talking.
Lucy: Yeah, dude! If,
on the other hand, you’re feeling lost in translation and not sure how to make
your chatter matter, try listening to the kids around you. With a little
practice, your gab will go from drab to fab!
CeCee: Hey—tween
speak!
Lucy and CeCee: Here
are a few dos and don’ts to remember when talking tween:
L&C’s Talking
Tween Tips
* Don’t
overdo the coolness factor. You’ll be perceived as trying too hard, which is
worse than being perceived as uncool.
*Don’t
overdo the Internet acronyms when you talk. A few are acceptable and necessary,
but try to limit them to texts, tweets, and the chat room.
*Do
sprinkle in cool-sounding vocabulary. Here are some fun, sophisticated words to
try:
o
My sister was so uppity today.
o
I don’t know what to do; I’m so conflicted.
o
Camouflage is so passé, don’t you think?
o
Her look is so urbane coming from the
city.
*Do
use ironically cool retro words and phrases like “groovy,” “gotta split,” and
“far out.” Do use
these tired slang words and phrases sparingly or not at all:
these tired slang words and phrases sparingly or not at all:
o
Pad/crib
o
No brainer
o
Da bomb
o
You go, girl
o
My bad
o
Let’s not and say we did
o
Are we having fun yet?
*Do
compliment others’ gear with the following:
o
So vintage
o
So retro
o
So Betsey Johnson (or other designer)
o
So crafty
o
So fun
o
So the new black
o
So classic
*Do
use the following lines when you’re not really listening:
o
“Shut up right now.”
o
“Grab a rail.”
o
“OMG.”
o
“I’m baffled. Utterly baffled."
