‘Obama’ now slang for ‘cool’ in UCLA lexicon

• Source: Global Times
• [00:38 August 04 2009]
• Comments

The sixth edition of “UCLA Slang” is being published this month and the US president’s name, Obama, has been listed with a definition of “cool,” attracting more readers.

The 160-page English-slanglish lexicon includes terms, definitions, parts of speech, sample sentences and notes on the etymology and origin of new slang, supplying such words as “obama,” which means cool, as in “You’re so obama.”

The book is released every four years by linguistics professor Pamela Munro and her students at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

According to the UCLA newsroom, the dictionary has become an institution at the school, where the volume with a yellow cover has been providing “eargasms” since 1989.

The newsroom also said that, with more than 1,000 entries, “UCLA Slang 6” aims to serve as the latest word on lingo used on the Westwood campus.

Munro said the lighthearted dictionary is put together using a methodical process that starts with students collecting slang from friends followed by a detailed analysis to make sure submissions are spelled and defined correctly.

“Students learn a lot about grammar, language and linguistics,” Munro said. “You can study anything you want about ordinary language through the medium of slang.”

“Eargasms” means just what it sounds like; other terms or phrases include “fomo,” or fear of missing out, and “schwa” for wow.

“Awkward turtle,” with nothing to do with the marine animal, means a comment made in an awkward situation, normally not addressed to the one causing the awkwardness.

Although “obama” now means cool, ‘cool’ is still in the journal, Munro said. “Cool is one of those words where everybody knows the word, but still thinks it’s a slang,” the newsroom reported.

Some people, such as parents, are often astonished when exposed to words such as “crossfaded” (drunk and high off marijuana) and “booty call” (a call or message to someone to request sexual contact), but Munro says they should just “chillax” (calm down), USA Today reported.

She also said, “I think that maybe when parents see this, they get the idea that this reflects college life, but I don’t think college life has ever really consisted of only these activities. ”

Agencies