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Friday, 8 December, 2000, 12:22 GMT
Student slang leaves parents dazed
![]() A helpful glossary of student slang has been compiled to ensure parents know exactly what their offspring are talking about when they come home for Christmas.
Research carried out by Dr Tony McEnery, Reader of linguistics at the University of Lancaster - in conjunction with the website Student World - found that UK campuses have a language of their own.
The research lists 17 words for getting drunk and some expressive words for sex, like lancing, jousting, getting jiggy with it, parking your bus, having a boff or, you've guessed it, a Spice Girls-inspired zig a zig ah. When describing someone a student may not find wholly to his or her taste, there are some 14 different words to chose from, such as biffer, duffer, moose, swamp donkey and minger - Jerry Springer. Snags 'n' babs Parents who are lucky enough to be cooked a meal this Christmas, should brace themselves for a host of possibilities, from snags (sausages), a scran (small snack), babs (kebabs), tucker or munchies (something to nibble), which may be washed down with a few swifties or scoops (pints).
But be prepared for carnage - the result of a particularly heavy drinking session - the next morning. Lush, the researchers found, is a general term used to express approval, while rank refers to something horrible or bad. And if you're kosher, you're cool. An excuse for not buying any Christmas presents might be that they are brassic - out of cash. And if parents really are none the wiser, they haven't got a scoobie-do (clue) what their offspring are talking about. Desmond Tutu When it comes to a degree, students are likely to be aiming for a Geoff Hurst (a first), but are more likely to end up with a Trevor Nunn (2:1) or a Desmond - as in Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2:2). But those who have been absent from too many lectures, may find themselves with a Douglas Hurd (a third) or worse still, a Dan Quayle (fail). "In part it's about people expressing the inexpressible, as such - risque subjects are discussed in slang," Dr McEnery said. "Or when certain groups want to create an identity, they create their own language and if you can use the jargon then you're a member of the group." Captain Grose Universities have been identified as a notable source of English slang, ever since Captain Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue was published in 1811, Dr McEnery said. Mike Hanson from Student World said the guide was produced in response to the "interesting and creative use of language" observed around university campuses. "We thought it would be useful for parents especially, so they can be on a level with their kids when they come home for holidays. "As our site is designed for students, we wanted to give them the opportunity to add their own words, so that we can keep the Dictionary of Slang as up to date as possible," he added.
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