Word Up: A Lexicon and Guide to Communication in the 21st Century

Many Australians knock young people for the unorthodox ways in which they use language and communicate. However, generations Y and Z are a product of our technological age, and their language simply reflects this. Unlike older generations, they have learned to adapt their spoken and written styles to technology. Technology isn't the only force shaping language today. American culture, multiculturalism and globalisation continue to have a major impact (to be analysed in the second chapter). The lexicon at the back of the book contains youth slang in current use by generations Y and Z. If you are a Baby Boomer (born 1946-1964) or a member of Generation X (1965-1979), you will notice some words spawned by your own generation that you probably used as a young person (and perhaps still use), that have been adopted by gens Y and Z. You will also notice that the spelling, pronunciation and even meanings of many of these words have changed or evolved with the younger generations. To compile this lexicon we surveyed generations Y and Z and asked them for the key words they use" and the meanings. Our research showed that not all under 30s use all these words, however they are the words of these generations, shaped by their times.