From: wolf@cheshire.oxy.edu (Clinton Richard Wolf)
Subject: ADMIN: Glossary of Buffspeak
Organization: Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041 USA.
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 02:32:15 GMT

        And here's that glossary of terms I've been promising for the longest
time... I don't know if the info will be useful, but it certainly adds flavor,
IMHO. I have a copy saved, in case anyone wants one  :)



                       A GLOSSARY OF BUFFSPEAK
                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
       The Buff' is a strange, isolated zone of Generica, and it's only natural
that over the years those dwelling there have developed a unique slang of their
own. Buffspeak sounds vaguely like a cross between Cockney and Australian ac-
cents (for those who would know such dialects ;) ), and is generally clipped
and uneloquent, keeping with the lifestyle of the Buff'. Here is a list of some
of the more common slang words the Buffers use, but keep in mind that Buffspeak
is very informal and adaptable, so new words may come into being or be discar-
ded at any given time...


AUDS: Ears. Similarly, 'auding' is listening to something.

CAP: To hold someone against their will, to kidnap or imprison.

CREEPY CHARLIE: Buff' slang for the horrors of the Shunned Center, one of the
                few examples of Buffspeak which has spread into general usage
                in Generica, although for those not in the Buff', Creepy Char-
                lie is just a generic bogeyman used to scare kids, and not
                believed in by most adults.

DIDJ: To steal or take something. Also used generally to refer to the hands or
      fingers.

ELDER: The leader of a Shunrunner spoke, usually the oldest and most exper-
       enced person in the group.

FEM: A girl or woman.

INIT: A Shunrunner term for a new member, yet to prove him or herself on a Run.

JACKED: Broken or injured, generally screwed up. 

'JECKT: An item, but usually used to refer to artifacts from the Shunned Center 

KIP: To sneak around, hide from sight, and generally not be seen or heard. Most
     Buffers are quite adept at kipping, as those that weren't, died.

LEDGE: A story or tale of the past. The Buffers have many Ledges about the Low
       City and the Center.

'LIFF: A unique member of a Shunrunner spoke, whose job it is to enforce the El-
       Elder's rules, organize search parties for missing Runners, and keep or-
       der at meetings. Also acts as a field commander in times of emergency,
       and the Elder's second-in-command. Generally this job is the province of
       the largest and strongest of the group, but patience, wisdom, and loy-
       alty are also important factors.

MASC: A boy or man.

NEG: An ubiquitous term used for 'no', 'bad', etc., as in "That's neg good..."

NERVY: Nervous or queasy.

NOG: The head. Also used for 'understand?', as in "You nog me?" or 'know', as
     in "I nog what you're pippin' about..."

OCKS: Eyes.

PATH: Sympathy, kindness for others' welfare.

PHENOMS: Events or happenings.

PIP: To speak.

POS: The opposite of neg. Used for 'yes', 'good' or as an adjective akin to
     'very'...

PRESS, or THE PRESS: The invisible field of mental strain lying over the
                     Shunned Center, the radius of which marks the boundary
                     between the Center and the Buff'. The Press gets stronger
                     as one ventures farther into the Center, so the Shunrun-
                     ners rarely go in far. The press is pure fear, and takes
                     the fears of one's imagination and makes them reality,
                     as well as gnawing away at your sanity and resolve. Run-
                     ners learn to block out the Press, or they die.

RUNNER: Generic term for any member of a Shunrunner spoke, also used to refer
        to the Shunrunners as a whole.

SHAFT: A curse word, whose origins are perhaps connected to the noisome rifts
       and cracks of the Center. Its usage is much the same as the Draga 'grot'

SHIVVY: Afraid, skittish. Similar to nervy, but more intense. Also has a more
        derogatory connotation than nervy, since being nervy in the Buff' or
        Center is considered healthy, while being shivvy is a sign of weakness
        and loss of control, which could get you killed.

SKIP: Run, flee, beat feet. Most Buffers are as adept at skipping as they are
      kipping.

SLIMER: Another term for Creepy Charlie, largely used only by the Buffers.

TEMP: To borrow.

VIZ: To see or witness something.


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