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A parent's primer to computer slang ( From Microsoft, thanks! )
Microsft Web Site ^ | February 4, 2005 | MS

Posted on 02/19/2005 9:34:10 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach

A parent's primer to computer slang

Understand how your kids communicate online to help protect them

Published: February 4, 2005
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Graphic of computer slang characters

​ ​​​​While it's important to respect your children's privacy, understanding what your teenager's online slang means and how to decipher it is important as you help guide their online experience. While it has many nicknames, information-age slang is commonly referred to as leetspeek, or leet for short. Leet (a vernacular form of "elite") is a specific type of computer slang where a user replaces regular letters with other keyboard characters to form words phonetically—creating the digital equivalent of pig Latin with a twist of hieroglyphics.

Leet words can be expressed in hundreds of ways using different substitutions and combinations, but once one understands that nearly all characters are formed as phonemes and symbols, leetspeek isn't difficult to translate.

Key points for learning leetspeek

Numbers are often used as letters.

The term "leet" could be written as "1337," with "1" replacing the letter L, "3" posing as a backwards letter E, and "7" resembling the letter T. "0" (zero) will typically replace the letter "O."

Characters of similar appearance can be used to replace the letters they resemble. For example, "5" or even "$" can replace the letter S. Applying this style, the word "leetspeek" can be written as "133t5p33k" or even "!337$p34k," with "4" replacing the letter A.

Letters can be substituted for other letters that may sound alike. Using "Z" for a final letter S, and "X" for words ending in the letters C or K is common. For example, leetspeekers might refer to their computer "5x1llz" (skills).

Rules of grammar are rarely obeyed. Some leetspeekers will capitalize every letter except for vowels (LiKe THiS) and otherwise reject conventional English style and grammar.

Mistakes are often uncorrected. Common typing misspellings (or typos) such as "teh" instead of "the" are left uncorrected and may be adopted to replace the correct spelling.

Non-alphanumeric characters may be combined to form letters.

For example, using slashes to create "/\/\" can substitute for the letter M, and two pipes combined with a hyphen to form "|-|" is often used in place of the letter H. Thus, the word "ham" could be written as "|-|4/\/\."

It's important to remember that the leetspeek community encourages new forms and awards individual creativity, resulting in a dynamic written language that eludes conformity or consistency. However, there are a few standard terms. The following is a sample of key words that haven't changed fundamentally (although variations occur) since the invention of leetspeek. The first series is of particular concern, as their use could be an indicator that your teenager is involved in the theft of intellectual property, particularly licensed software.

Leet words possibly indicating illegal activity:

"warez" or "w4r3z": Illegally copied software available for download.

"h4x": Read as "hacks," or what a computer hacker does.

"pron": An anagram of "porn," possibly indicating the use of pornography.

"sploitz" (short for exploits): Vulnerabilities in computer software used by hackers.

"pwn": A typo-deliberate version of own, a slang term that means to dominate. This could also be spelled "0\/\/n3d" or "pwn3d," among other variations. Online video game bullies or "griefers" often use this term.

Other common leet words:

"kewl": A common derivation of "cool."

"m4d sk1llz" or "mad skills": Refers to one's own talent. "m4d" itself is often used for emphasis.

"n00b," "noob," "newbie," or "newb": Combinations synonymous with new user. Some leetspeekers view "n00b" as an insult and "newbie" as an affectionate term for new users.

"w00t" or the smiley character \o/: A common interjection, analogous to "woohoo!" or victory in a game.

"rox0rs" Used in place of "rocks," typically to describe something impressive.

"d00d": Replaces the greeting or addressing someone as a "dude."

"joo" and "u": Used instead of "you." This is also commonly written as "j00" or "_|00."

"ph": often replaces "f," as in "phear" for "fear" (as in "ph34r my l33t skillz") and vice versa, such as spelling "phonetic" as "f0|\|371(."

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TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: computerslang; kidtalk

1 posted on 02/19/2005 9:34:14 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

PWN3D!

2 posted on 02/19/2005 9:42:08 AM PST by martin_fierro (Harsh not my mellow)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Phunny 57uff
3 posted on 02/19/2005 9:46:45 AM PST by martin_fierro (Harsh not my mellow)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; martin_fierro

It's like the slang lingo in "A Clockwork Orange" you do start to get the hang of it after a bit.

That to me was the best part of reading that book, at the start I was looking up every single word in the glossary at the back, by the end I was breezing along, comprehending new slang words just by context.


4 posted on 02/19/2005 9:49:24 AM PST by jocon307 (Vote George Washington for the #1 spot)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

They ought to be spending more time making their lousy software more secure instead of educating parents about teenage internet slang.


5 posted on 02/19/2005 9:56:23 AM PST by big'ol_freeper (World Series Champion Boston Red Sox!! Has a nice ring to it.)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Common typing misspellings (or typos) such as "teh" instead of "the" are left uncorrected and may be adopted to replace the correct spelling.

Aha! I was actually ahead of time -- and all these years I thought I was simply ignorant.

7 posted on 02/19/2005 10:18:10 AM PST by BenLurkin
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Not long ago I saw an a news report related to this. A high-school English teacher said his students were using this crap in their homework. As an example, he showed homework in which students had used "b/c" in place of "because". He said it makes him want to scream.

Dear "1337" students:
Don't worry. McDonalds and Burger King are always hiring.
8 posted on 02/19/2005 10:26:40 AM PST by holymoly ("A lot" is TWO words.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Us Southerners are way ahead of this curve.


9 posted on 02/19/2005 10:56:12 AM PST by cowboyway (My Hero's have always been cowboys.)
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To: holymoly
As an example, he showed homework in which students had used "b/c" in place of "because". He said it makes him want to scream.

The use of "b/c" for because long predates computers, as do "w/", "w/o", and other such notations.

10 posted on 02/19/2005 11:02:31 AM PST by supercat (Better to have egg on one's face than blood on one's hands.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
"kewl": A common derivation of "cool."

I'm pretty certain "kewl" predates on-line chat. It is pronounced differently from "cool"; although dictionary.com lists it as a "humorous spelling" of cool, I tend to think it may be an interjuxtabposition (whatever they're called) of "keen" and "cool".

11 posted on 02/19/2005 11:05:16 AM PST by supercat (Better to have egg on one's face than blood on one's hands.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I noticed they left out BSOD


12 posted on 02/19/2005 11:08:05 AM PST by Richard Kimball (It was a joke. You know, humor. Like the funny kind. Only different.)
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13 posted on 02/19/2005 1:25:30 PM PST by Texas_Jarhead (Islam is religion of piece established for profit for Muhammad, piss be upon him.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Life has gotten too complicated already. :)


14 posted on 02/19/2005 7:37:09 PM PST by Cedar
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To: martin_fierro
While it's important to respect your children's privacy...

Uh....sorry, but no it's not important. Children should live in a benevolent dictatorship.
15 posted on 02/19/2005 9:22:00 PM PST by politicket
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To: politicket

Uh....sorry, but I didn't say otherwise.


16 posted on 02/19/2005 10:49:55 PM PST by martin_fierro (Harsh not my mellow)
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To: jocon307

It gives me a warm vibraty feeling way down in me guttyworks.

Keeping-up-with-pop-culture ping for later.


17 posted on 02/20/2005 12:02:46 AM PST by AnOldCowhand (The west is dead. You may lose a sweetheart, but you will never forget her - Charles Russell)
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To: martin_fierro

I was actually replying to the article and not to you. Sorry if you took it any other way. ;-)


18 posted on 02/20/2005 12:27:01 AM PST by politicket
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To: jocon307

What will it be then, eh? My old droogie, to this day I still think at times in nadsat. Funny how some things stay in the ole' gulliver.


19 posted on 02/20/2005 8:37:26 PM PST by Lawgvr1955 (Never draw to an inside straight.)
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