Learning the computer lingo

How about having a group of young people laugh at you because you simply do not understand their slang terminology?

It seems that TT’s teens are developing a language all their own, a trend teenagers have carried on for years.

However, these days, these codes and new lingo have the potential to become a point of concern for parents.

These same strange combinations of letters and odd terminology may be a means by which children and teenagers are conducting unbecoming behaviour online and having inappropriate conversations.

From drugs to sex, some of these phrases and anagrams are meant to hide the true nature of certain conversations from attentive parents’ ears and eyes. For example, when a teen types AITR, P911, PAW, PIR, POS, PLOS, PRW or MOS, he is usually signalling that a parent is close by so coversation must desist.

AITR means Adult in the Room while P911 signals a Parent Emergency. PAW, PIR and POS translates to Parents are watching, in the room or over the shoulder.

These are just a few because there are codes of a more inappropriate nature.

Some such anagrams are TDTM which translates Talk Dirty to Me; GNOC which means Get Naked on Cam and the potentially dangerous LMIRL — Let’s Meet in Real Life.

The latter can be particularly sinister as it has been discovered that some victims of pedophilia and underage sexual abuse met their aggressors online and conducted a secret relationship via the Internet by using these codes that led to a meeting in person and the abuse.

Therefore, law enforcement agencies are stressing the importance of knowing these codes.

However, not all lingo is harmful. Some, such as some current Trini slangs are simply the local youths attempt at the age-old trend of developing a lingo for themselves. While some are rude and inappropriate, most are harmless.

The use of the term “chocolate” implies that a person is cool while “balance” can mean a variety of different things when used in a particular context.

For example, if someone is ill and you respond “Balance yourself,” it essentially means “Get well soon!”

Also, if you are greeting someone, you can say “Balance” to mean either “Hello” or “Goodbye.”

Then there is the term “Swanky” in which the meaning once again varies depending on the context in which it is used.

“You looking swanky” means that the person is looking good and attractive. However, if used in the context of drugs or alcohol, “I am feeling swanky” translates as feeling “high” or intoxicated.

The word “Sprung” means being completely “head-over-heels” in love with someone while the verb “to bone” means to have sexual intercourse with someone.

The word “krunk,” while originating with a positive meaning has evolved to a negative connotation meaning “ugly,” “bad,” “untidy.”

“Palos,” “horse” and “Fadda” are just terms used when referring to someone as in, “Aye horse!”

It is thought to originate from the days of cowboys and is used to refer to friends, since a cowboy always “rides” with his horse.

Finally, there is the term “roocorau” which, while not originating as derogatory term, has evolved into a reference for the female genatalia.