As a society, we have now passed peak bae.
February 24, 2015 6:57 PM   Subscribe

According to a British linguist's research on Twitter users in the U.S. (direct link to 55-page PDF), what do young Southern black women and young Northern and Western white men have in common? They're "lexical innovators" whose slang creation skills are on fleek.

If you'd like to test your slang vocabulary's on fleek status, the New York Times is here to help. (via)

Previously: Brands Saying Bae and Time magazine explains it all to you.
posted by fuse theorem (71 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
10/12! I'm no lamestain in wack slacks!
posted by entropicamericana at 7:01 PM on February 24, 2015 [10 favorites]


I have to say I love all of this new slang unreservedly. I think it's wonderfully expressive and delicious like a fast-moving stream. Textual communication becoming more common leads to more expressive slang arising and propagating out of it, one of the good things that came out of all this technology we're trying to make the best of. Haters to the left.
posted by bleep at 7:09 PM on February 24, 2015 [7 favorites]


I still have not ever seen or heard anyone using those words except in articles trying to explain them.

Sometimes I wonder if there is one internet connecting multiple universes.
posted by Foosnark at 7:09 PM on February 24, 2015 [9 favorites]


Phreooow, the froods who researched this really know where their towels are. Belgium.
posted by not_on_display at 7:09 PM on February 24, 2015 [17 favorites]


11/12. Osmosis and context clues are on fleek.
posted by thecaddy at 7:10 PM on February 24, 2015 [5 favorites]


I grow old … I grow old …
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
posted by Auden at 7:12 PM on February 24, 2015 [16 favorites]


YOLOAINO=Boomer!
Peak fleek? TOTP
posted by Oyéah at 7:13 PM on February 24, 2015


Sometimes I wonder if there is one internet connecting multiple universes.

A concept capable of both explaining the prevalence of apparent conspiracy theories and creating all kinds of entirely new ones.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:14 PM on February 24, 2015 [3 favorites]


What Foosnark said. For the two-year period when everyone was saying "OMG, would everyone stop saying 'YOLO' already, it's sooo stupid", the only people I heard actually saying "YOLO" were...the people complaining about it.

It's interesting that, thanks to Twooter and the cybernets, we can now trace (some) slang back to the exact moment of its coinage. Not long ago, the inventor of "on fleek" would have been lost to the mists of time.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 7:14 PM on February 24, 2015 [3 favorites]


Live long enough for next year's peaches.
posted by Oyéah at 7:15 PM on February 24, 2015 [3 favorites]


…I've seen the mermaids singing fleek to fleek.
Bae will not sing to me.
posted by johnnydummkopf at 7:15 PM on February 24, 2015 [29 favorites]


#Skittiley-do boogz nashy tree
posted by clavdivs at 7:15 PM on February 24, 2015


Is it perfume from bae's fleek dress that makes me so digress?
posted by Oyéah at 7:22 PM on February 24, 2015 [4 favorites]


In the room the women come and go
Talking of YOLO
posted by Auden at 7:29 PM on February 24, 2015 [20 favorites]


Stop trying to make "fleek" happen. It's not going to happen.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:30 PM on February 24, 2015 [14 favorites]


I can't read the link yet but I look forward to checking it out when I get back to my flippety floppety foo.
posted by mannequito at 7:30 PM on February 24, 2015 [5 favorites]


Why is "unbothered" there? Isn't that pretty clear?
posted by solarion at 7:35 PM on February 24, 2015 [1 favorite]


Wait, how do "slays" and "amirite" get counted? Those so old, man.

2nd thought: I was surprised at how involved Arizona was. Arizona. Why?
posted by Glinn at 7:40 PM on February 24, 2015


Also: Nothing on punctuation? I could write several pages on the expressive differences between questions ending with A: null, B: "?", C: "??", D: "???", E: "?????????????(etc)", F: "?!", and G: "?!?!?!?!?!?"
posted by solarion at 7:41 PM on February 24, 2015 [3 favorites]


.
posted by clavdivs at 7:44 PM on February 24, 2015 [3 favorites]


Stop trying to make "fleek" happen. It's not going to happen.

but it already did tho
posted by jason_steakums at 7:47 PM on February 24, 2015 [8 favorites]


"Bae" does not compute, unless you have a thick Groundskeeper Willie accent.
posted by Brocktoon at 7:50 PM on February 24, 2015


I love on fleek because it is me and I have to like coach myself not to say it so I won't sound like a lame middle-aged white lady trying to sound cool. AND YET.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:53 PM on February 24, 2015 [4 favorites]


I only got unbothered wrong, but that's because I'm pretty sure that's its normal meaning already?
posted by Nomiconic at 7:54 PM on February 24, 2015 [1 favorite]




That's so deck.
posted by The Whelk at 8:06 PM on February 24, 2015 [6 favorites]


There is not anything on fleek about me, so I just experiment with puttimg "f" in front of things. Its just fme.
posted by Oyéah at 8:08 PM on February 24, 2015


I have never seen the Peaches speaking fleek to each .
posted by Oyéah at 8:10 PM on February 24, 2015


Two households each alike in douchebaggery,
In fleek Verona where we float this shizz
From ancient beef break to new toolery...
posted by Oyéah at 8:16 PM on February 24, 2015 [10 favorites]


New slang isn't nearly as interesting as the desire to make and use new slang. It's an egoistic impulse for sure, which makes it annoying, but it's a form of self-expression, which I guess kinda makes it okay.

I think it's hilarious that everyone still uses the word "awesome". It makes me feel non-old. Once people stop saying "awesome", I'll need to start seriously considering golf and Fort Lauderdale, or whatever the hell my generation decides to do when we get old besides golf and Fort Lauderdale.

I really hope we do something other than golf and Fort Lauderdale. Or mahjong. Fuck mahjong.
posted by evil otto at 8:25 PM on February 24, 2015 [3 favorites]


today’s emerging terms

unbothered

Oh NYT. This whole outing was so extra.

(I'm tempted to send the author an email asking how they could forget updogg)
posted by kagredon at 8:26 PM on February 24, 2015 [3 favorites]


10/12 on the quiz, and speaking of the quiz:

For bruuh, the alternate spelling of bruh, did anyone else notice that the vine they link to as their supporting evidence actually spells it bruhhh? I'm not sure if that's a typo in the quiz, or if they're just wrong about the etymology, or if I'm just over thinking this.*

*Okay, I'm definitely over thinking this.
posted by litera scripta manet at 8:54 PM on February 24, 2015 [1 favorite]


Oh, and the only place I've ever seen any of these words used is on Buzzfeed (and other similar internet blackholes of time wasting). I don't think I've ever heard someone say these words out loud, but maybe I just don't get out enough and/or hang out with the wrong people.
posted by litera scripta manet at 8:57 PM on February 24, 2015 [1 favorite]


Okay, well, looking at the first link, they have it written as "bruuh" so I guess the vine link from the NYT was just a red herring.
posted by litera scripta manet at 9:04 PM on February 24, 2015


i m unbothered

I have fw
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

hbd fuckboy
they gmfu sm
so sweet
and so cold
posted by not_on_display at 9:07 PM on February 24, 2015 [13 favorites]


"bae" is just an alternate spelling of "beau" just like "ratchet" is an alternate spelling of "wretched". They're not new words, they're just new spellings.
posted by I-baLL at 9:13 PM on February 24, 2015


So fleeked.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:16 PM on February 24, 2015


These are the tears of a squonk.
posted by ostranenie at 9:42 PM on February 24, 2015


I remember experiencing the rise of fall of Doge As A Thing and how like, quietly and without any fuss, we all just agreed to stop it and then it turned up in those Seamless Web ads on the subway in fall and I thought "Wow that's ...jarring and out of date." and then thought about exactly how much time it took for that to happen.

It's interesting anyway, the development of fads and their lifespans.
posted by The Whelk at 9:47 PM on February 24, 2015 [4 favorites]


That's true about doge. Maybe advertisers will give up on trying to stay current soon. I wish they would just go back to those straightforward formal descriptions of their products like in early advertising.
posted by bleep at 10:14 PM on February 24, 2015 [1 favorite]


doge you

                Y.                      _   
                YiL                   .```.  
                Yii;                .; .;;`.    
                YY;ii._           .;`.;;;; :    
                iiYYYYYYiiiii;;;;i` ;;::;;;;    
            _.;YYYYYYiiiiiiYYYii  .;;.   ;;; 
         .YYYYYYYYYYiiYYYYYYYYYYYYii;`  ;;;;    
       .YYYYYYY$$YYiiYY$$$$iiiYYYYYY;.ii;`..   
      :YYY$!.  TYiiYY$$$$$YYYYYYYiiYYYYiYYii.    
      Y$MM$:   :YYYYYY$!"``"4YYYYYiiiYYYYiiYY.    
   `. :MM$$b.,dYY$$Yii" :'   :YYYYllYiiYYYiYY    
_.._ :`4MM$!YYYYYYYYYii,.__.diii$$YYYYYYYYYYY
.,._ $b`P`     "4$$$$$iiiiiiii$$$$YY$$$$$$YiY;
   `,.`$:       :$$$$$$$$$YYYYY$$$$$$$$$YYiiYYL
    "`;$$.    .;PPb$`.,.``T$$YY$$$$YYYYYYiiiYYU:  
    ;$P$;;: ;;;;i$y$"!Y$$$b;$$$Y$YY$$YYYiiiYYiYY    4get re: doge
    $Fi$$ .. ``:iii.`-":YYYYY$$YY$$$$$YYYiiYiYYY    
    :Y$$rb ````  `_..;;i;YYY$YY$$$$$$$YYYYYYYiYY:    
     :$$$$$i;;iiiiidYYYYYYYYYY$$$$$$YYYYYYYiiYYYY. 
      `$$$$$$$YYYYYYYYYYYYY$$$$$$YYYYYYYYiiiYYYYYY     no no
      .i!$$$$$$YYYYYYYYY$$$$$$YYY$$YYiiiiiiYYYYYYY    
     :YYiii$$$$$$$YYYYYYY$$$$YY$$$$YYiiiiiYYYYYYi'
posted by aydeejones at 10:20 PM on February 24, 2015 [19 favorites]


Shiny!
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:24 PM on February 24, 2015 [1 favorite]


"bae" is just an alternate spelling of "beau" just like "ratchet" is an alternate spelling of "wretched". They're not new words, they're just new spellings.

I'm fairly sure "bae" is a corruption of "babe". Or at least, that's been my impression and seems consistent with usage. And regardless, the fact that both spelling and pronunciation differs in both cases seems pretty relevant.
posted by Nomiconic at 10:26 PM on February 24, 2015 [8 favorites]


kagredon: "today’s emerging terms

unbothered

Oh NYT. This whole outing was so extra.

(I'm tempted to send the author an email asking how they could forget updogg)
"

What's updogg?

[waggles index finger disapprovingly]

You wacky minx! You kids nowadays!

Get the fuck off my lawn before I get my shotgun loaded with rock salt.
posted by Samizdata at 11:17 PM on February 24, 2015 [2 favorites]


11/12. I literally saw a friend's photo on Instagram that said "Geek chic on Fleek" right before seeing this MetaFilter post and just thought she must be really excited about Fleet Week.
posted by Corduroy at 11:39 PM on February 24, 2015 [1 favorite]


Doge not dead.
posted by colie at 11:45 PM on February 24, 2015


fuckboys rising
posted by atoxyl at 12:44 AM on February 25, 2015 [1 favorite]


12/12

I just thought, if I were to hit myself in the head with an iphone for awhile, what would I tweet?

Bragging about your scores on stuff is still a thing, right?
posted by hap_hazard at 12:51 AM on February 25, 2015


i see pickup-artists coachin'
texts that just say "nudes plz"
skeleton army's encroachin'
look like it's the end of that peace

don't go round tonight
cause in the club they will be rife
there's a fuckboy on the rise
posted by kagredon at 1:01 AM on February 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


11/12 and I had never seen or heard any of the words before other than bae, which I got wrong. I thought it was a miss spelling of Bee as in Queen B.

Using language to reinforce social ties and cultural identity takes on a new dimension in the Twitter panopticon. I wonder how many of these 'new' words are first used in text after they are commonly used in speech, which is more likely to be used to reinforce social bonds within a locality. I also wonder how many are Nathan Barley-esque neologisms that are being consciously promoted.
posted by asok at 2:11 AM on February 25, 2015


Doge not dead.

so strange eons

very death die

wow
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:30 AM on February 25, 2015 [19 favorites]


Weapon.
posted by Drexen at 3:09 AM on February 25, 2015


fuckboys rising


Please. Everyone knows it's spelled fuccboi.
posted by still bill at 3:26 AM on February 25, 2015 [5 favorites]


I used to be on fleek, but then they changed what on fleek was. Now what I am isn't on fleek, and what's on fleek seems weird and scary to me.
posted by dephlogisticated at 4:46 AM on February 25, 2015 [10 favorites]


I took the quiz, got 11/12 from guessing, and I don't even remember most of the words a couple of minutes later.
posted by Foosnark at 4:50 AM on February 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


Maybe advertisers will give up on trying to stay current soon. I wish they would just go back to those straightforward formal descriptions of their products like in early advertising.

William Mays, Jr., and Co.
Eliminates both squishing and squashing!

Produces restaurant-quality miniature Hamburg sandwiches the whole family will love in less than one-thirtieth of an hour. Patented non-adhering aluminium construction prevents build-up of char and soot! Industrious housewives will learn to produce egg-sandwiches for bruncheon.

Inquire at your local greengrocer about the Big City Slider Station, and accept no substitute.
posted by thegears at 5:08 AM on February 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


How long can I go without knowing what it means? I CHALLENGE YOU!

It's like that superbowl results thing, but on a subject I care about.

Uh, that would be language.
posted by clvrmnky at 5:12 AM on February 25, 2015


I got 11/12 just from context. One or two I had seen before, but the others seem to just be Twitter slang for the most part.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:52 AM on February 25, 2015


11/12. I literally saw a friend's photo on Instagram that said "Geek chic on Fleek" right before seeing this MetaFilter post and just thought she must be really excited about Fleet Week.

Fleet Week Geek Chic on Fleek? Magnifique!
posted by jason_steakums at 6:08 AM on February 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


What's the correct slang to express my disappointment that the PDF appears to be a PowerPoint printout?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:01 AM on February 25, 2015


All your baes are belong to us
posted by Devonian at 7:26 AM on February 25, 2015 [2 favorites]


I love on fleek because it is me and I have to like coach myself not to say it so I won't sound like a lame middle-aged white lady trying to sound cool. AND YET.

I love it b/c that Vine user was like, My eyebrows look so good I have to invent a new word. They do look good.

I love slang.
posted by aka burlap at 8:35 AM on February 25, 2015


Bruhhh seems like more like an exaggerated beer belch, than a familiar.
posted by Oyéah at 9:57 AM on February 25, 2015


Ah I know this guy! He does solid research that is also super fun and very well-presented (those word distribution charts are fab).

I'm almost 100% certain he's North American (not British), btw.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:09 AM on February 25, 2015


I'm almost 100% certain he's North American (not British), btw.

Oops. The NYT's article said he was a linguist at a university in England. I erroneously concluded he was British. Further googling reveals that he's probably Canadian.
posted by fuse theorem at 11:30 AM on February 25, 2015


I'm only aware of "bae" because of Twitter and I'm not entirely sure how it's pronounced. Like "bay"?

Given my limited exposure to the word I have no idea why I find it so incredibly obnoxious. It doesn't make any sense, but God help me I do.
posted by brundlefly at 11:38 AM on February 25, 2015


Just drop the second b in babe.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 11:45 AM on February 25, 2015


Shall I compare thee to a Tinder bae?
posted by enjoymoreradio at 12:57 PM on February 25, 2015


I am to dorm!
posted by clavdivs at 4:24 PM on February 25, 2015


I only know what "bae" means cause of Miranda Sings. Please someone take my internet away from me.
posted by not_on_display at 7:20 PM on February 25, 2015


I have measured out my life in fleek buffoons.
posted by Oyéah at 8:24 AM on March 2, 2015


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