3 Ways to Speak the Language of Generation Y

If you have a Gen Y in your life, or if you spend a lot of time texting, IM'ing (instant messaging) or BBM' ing (Blackberry messaging" it's likely you will know what the following acronyms mean:

LOL

MOS

PAW

ROFL

If you don't know what they mean, here's the translation:

Laugh out loud

Mother over shoulder

Parents are watching

Rolling on floor laughing

We live and work with a whole new generational language and fairly soon there will likely be classes on, "how to speak Gen Y". Some of you might be asking, "Why would I even want to learn to speak their language?" There are a few reasons:

1. When we can speak the 'language' of someone's culture we can relate to each other more easily.


2. By learning the 'Gen Y language' we are showing that we care to understand and that we care to build the relationship.


3. Learning a new way of communicating leads to enhanced creative thinking.

Today, while finishing up lunch our Gen Y server said, "What are you doing for the rest of your Friday?"

I said, "I am self employed, I will likely be 'dogging it' this afternoon." The Gen Y gave me a blank stare and then I realized I needed to translate for her, so I said, "let me rephrase that in Gen Y, this afternoon I will be "peacing it out". She broke up laughing and said, "Oh that I understand, you will be taking it easy this afternoon".

I have an advantage as a generations expert, but I also interact with my Gen Y kids on a regular basis and so I am surrounded by their 'lingo'.

So how can you speak the language of a Gen Y? Here are 3 ways:

1. Check out the site http://www.netlingo.com to find out more acronym's


2. Take a lunch with a Gen Y and ask them to update you on their common terms for example, chill to a Gen Y means relax but they have also created, "chillax" which means "chill and relax" at the same time. The word bomb, means good not bad and 'peace' means good-bye.


3. Check out websites like TMZ, http://www.tmz.com, search YouTube for clips for interviews with Gen Y celebrities like Justin Bieber.

The benefits of speaking the language of Gen Y are many including, relating on a more personal level, increased loyalty to you if you are their boss, and of course you will up your 'coolness' factor.


Source by Cheryl Cran