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