CONVERSATION PIECE: Kinross Wolaroi School students Liesl Gray, Lauren Coates, Gini Green and Ellie Fisher say most of the new words announced for inclusion in the dictionary this week are not part of their vocabulary. Photo: STEVE GOSCH
IN A CHANGING world where new words are being introduced to the dictionary this week, it is old words with new meanings that are a part of language in social conversation young Orange people say.
Kinross Wolaroi senior students Ellie Fisher, Gini Green, Liesl Gray and Lauren Coates said many of the 40 new words announced by Collins to be included in their dictionary, they’ve never or rarely heard.
The word which tops the new Collins dictionary list - amazeballs, they say is not part of their vocabulary, even though it is now in the dictionary.
However existing words such as epic, classic, legit (legitimate) and like are part of their conversation, albeit with a different context to that explained in the dictionary.
“It is different when you’re talking with someone and you use particular words that aren’t part of our normal language, but when it comes to schoolwork we always stick to traditional language,” said senior student Gini Green.
All the girls agree however they do get pulled up regularly by parents and teachers on the way they punctuate sentences with the word like, which they say their friends use
“My parents comment to me not to use like all the time, and pick me up when I do use it,” said Ellie Fisher.
The girls say words like epic, legit, and classic all have their own meaning amongst their group of school friends.
“If we’re talking and someone uses the word epic it means to us that it is something massive that’s happened,” said Liesl.
Lauren Coates said she’s only ever heard the word bridezilla, which is on the list of new Collins dictionary words, used on television.
However all the girls like using the word classic when it comes to describing a humorous situation.
They say within their own school language fads come and go amongst students when they’re chatting in recess or at lunchtime.
“So many of the boys at the moment just walk up and say ‘how are ya’ - it’s sort of like a joke by they say it all the time at our school at the moment,” said Lauren.
However when it comes to classroom assignments they say their teachers remain sticklers for good language skills particularly with the traditional written word.
