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A recent mis-hearing has got me starting to use the word "digital" to mean "new" and/or "exciting". For example (in a surfer voice): "That electric car is so digital! I've got to have one!"
I also like "I'm digital with that" to mean "I strongly agree". In question format it could be "Are you digital with that?" or "Do you digital me?"
(Apologies in advance, but my gut reaction to the thread topic was that old line: "Let's not, and say we did!")
Will you have to explain this usage every time? Do you believe others are likely to pick up on it?
Which gets me to wondering: is "secret" or "private" language a subset of slang, or something else? Martha, Grant, what do you think?
To answer dilettante, a "secret" or "private" language can be slang but doesn't have to be. For example, some kind of pig Latin or dog Latin wouldn't be slang unless the content of that talk was also slangy: if it was in a lower register, if it was used by a low status group, if it was the kind of content that wouldn't be heard in the mouths of royalty and senators, etc.
I've got 20 bucks that says "I'm digital with that" won't last, but then I've seen too many new words and new meanings fail so I'm betting with inside information.
I don't know about "digital," but I recently saw a cringe-worthy infomercial touting "Hi-Def Sunglasses"
The product was a pair of large, amber-colored polarized glasses (think blu blockers shaped to resemble modern safety goggles) meant to be worn over prescription eyeglasses.
While the sales pitch is logical, the announcer repeatedly used the term "hi-def" in the sense of anything that was "new" "improved" "enhanced" or "far out."
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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