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Slanging it up

By Daily Bruin Staff

May 29, 1997 9:00 p.m.

Friday, 5/30/97 Slanging it up SLANG: Students in Linguistics 88
expand the lexicon with their newly published dictionary

By Carol McKay Daily Bruin Contributor When students in
Linguistics 88 entered their classroom last fall, they had no idea
that by the end of the year they’d be published authors. Authors,
that is, of a dictionary that defines phrases such as "get
medieval" and "Jerkoff" Coffeehouse. But authors they became, and
Wednesday night the students, along with their professor, Pamela
Munro, celebrated the publication of "UCLA Slang 3." "I didn’t tell
them about the book until I thought that it would be good. And I
think it’s the best of the three," she said. Munro, who published
the first of the three slang dictionaries in 1989, begins the cycle
every four years, when she teaches her linguistics class devoted to
the study of slang. In the fall, 24 students began contributing to
the book, and nine of them, who continued to devote time to the
production during Winter Quarter, finished the book at the end of
winter. The process of selecting words and debating their
definitions was a gruesome one, according to students at the
celebration. Toasting themselves with Cokes over Goldfish crackers
and Oreo cookies, the group remembered frustrations they dealt with
throughout the production. "There were a couple of words that we
spent a whole day on," said Mayer Nazarian, a third-year business
economics student. "We would argue about a lot of words." At some
points during the process – like right around the letter C – the
lengthy journey became frustrating for a few. "There were times
when I wasn’t sure we’d get to the end," Munro said. But the group
did finish, and at the publishing party, they were proud of their
work, signing each other’s books and reminiscing over the more
difficult – and amusing – words to define. "Do you know what
smuggling raisins means?" one student asked with a secret grin.
"Erect nipples is a common theme in the book," answered Munro. "I
think that’s classy." The dictionary, which focuses on slang that
is used specifically by UCLA students, includes several "expanded
acronyms" which, although may sound foreign and complex, are really
quite simple. "USC – the University of Spoiled Children, or the
University of Second Choice," offered Professor Tim Stowell,
chairman of the linguistics department, who was present at the
celebration. Stowell, who has helped with the publishing of all
three copies of the book, is the one who Munro generously calls "da
boss." "I am always struck by the predominance of sex, drugs and
vomiting (in the dictionary)," he said. The abundance of words
relating to drug use, he continued, serves as a sort of "window
into society." With 73 definitions relating to marijuana alone,
Munro agrees, saying that its rate has gone up, compared to 21
times in "UCLA Slang 2" and only 18 times in "UCLA Slang 1." For
the students involved, finding words and attempting to define them
accurately proved to be a challenge. In researching for individual
assignments before work on the book began, students found
themselves listening in on their friends’ conversations for
entries. "It really changed the way I listen," said Julia
Mitrevski, a fourth-year microbiology and molecular genetics
student. South Campus students like Mitrevski are common in the
class because it covers general education requirements. "And (the
class) sounds easy," Munro said, with a smile. It is apparent by
their enthusiasm that the students involved in the project have all
been affected by the book. One student showed her dedication to the
dictionary by stopping by the celebration during her break from
work at Jimmy’s. Although she was only able to stay for a few
minutes, she picked up a book, signed Munro’s and then went back to
work. Another student involved in the project credits the class as
the reason for her choosing to major in linguistics. And other
students said that their perception of definitions has changed due
to their participation in the publishing. "It’s far more academic
now than I thought it was before," said Katy Close, a first-year
pre-psychology student. "I find myself looking at words in a
different way too." The group of newly published students hope that
the book will sell well, and that by late this week or early next
week, it will be available in the student store. "Our friends alone
will buy a couple hundred copies," Close said, summing up the
anticipation felt by friends who know of her involvement in the
project. "They keep asking when it will come out." Munro said that
the students have every reason to be excited and proud. "They are
published. They’ve got something to put on their resumes." "And
it’s neatest for Jennifer," she added. "’Cause her name is first
(on the list of authors." But the owners of the names following
Jennifer Benedict’s don’t seem to mind their positions later in the
list. Kevin Kleinrock, a first-year undeclared student, expressed
the feeling of all of his co-authors: "It’s dope!" JAMIE
SCANLON-JACOBS Kevin Kleinrock was one of nine undergraduates who
helped finish the "UCLA Slang 3" dictionary. Related Links:Street
SlangSilicon Valley Slang

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