“What on earth does ‘rizz’ mean?”
“It’s giving Grandpa needs a glow-up.”
Welcome to the linguistic frontier of Generation Alpha, where acronyms fly faster than dad jokes at a barbecue. Where emojis are as emotionally loaded as Shakespearean soliloquies (hint: never ever use the aubergine emoji, just trust me on this one).
For many in our Don’t Let The Old Man In tribe, trying to understand Gen Alpha slang can feel like decoding ancient hieroglyphs with a broken magnifying glass. But fear not. This isn’t a call to yell at the clouds about the latest TikTok trend. It’s a reminder that language has always been in flux, and that’s not a bug, it’s a feature.
The Evolution of English: From Beowulf to Bae
Language is a living, breathing thing. In The Adventure of English, Melvyn Bragg takes readers on a rollicking ride through the unlikely evolution of our mother tongue, from Old English invaders to the global language of memes and microblogs.
Bragg reminds us that English has never been static. Chaucer was once slangy. Shakespeare coined over 1,700 words. In Victorian times, hello was newfangled and OK was the text speak of the 19th century. Just like today’s “skrrt” and “sus,” each generation reinvents the language to reflect its culture.
So while we may scratch our heads at “bet,” “delulu,” or “mid,” it’s worth remembering that someone once said the same about “groovy,” “wicked,” or even “cool.” The English language has an incredible capacity to embrace new words and ideas, and is all the better and richer for it. We borrowed “rucksack” and “angst” from the Germans, “chic” and “mutton” from the French. The Spanish gave us “mosquito” and “stampede”, while the Italians gave us “confetti”. And us Aussies have made our contributions felt as well. Think “furphy”, “dinkum” and “bogan”.
Why It’s OK (and Kinda Fun) to Be Confused
There’s joy in being curious. Instead of grumbling about the weirdness of today’s language, we can lean in and learn. It’s like discovering a secret code, except your teenage nephew is the gatekeeper and you should try not to look too desperate.
We can also use these moments as opportunities for learning and laughter. For example, I notice my kids regularly fail to finish their similes. “Aw Dad it was hot as …” Umm, well, son, hot as what? Make it a game to come up with best simile. (“As hot as a jalapeno’s armpit” or “As hot as the wings of Icarus” are two personal favourites that might even spark a conversation). Not only does this promote play and connection across generations, it reminds us that expression is elastic. So let’s stretch it.
The Right Word for the Right Moment
Of course, context matters. Emojis and acronym-rich slang are great in DMs or family group chats, but might not cut it in a business proposal or a board meeting. And while Slack might be the wild west of workplace chat, clear language helps us collaborate and get things done.
That doesn’t mean the old guard is always right. Remember when using email for work felt outrageous? Or when texting your boss was scandalous? Now it’s the norm. Language evolves with technology, culture, and yes, youth.
