We use words all the time to communicate with other people. Fairly obvious really. The words you use in everyday speech are basically the same as those your parents would have used 20 or 30 years ago: so why is it that parents sometimes have difficulty in understanding some of the things that their children say? It's not a new phenomenon. It's probably because language changes constantly; misunderstanding could be due to the inclusion of certain words that have arrived in the last fifteen, ten or even five years. This year's coolest piece of verbal bling may well be included in your speech . . . but it certainly won't听 be part of your parents' vocabulary. This is why the 成人论坛 is involving itself in a study with Leeds and Cardiff Universities. The aim is to try to capture the words used in everyday language as they develop and before they are lost. Think about it. There are certain words that you might not use because they're unfashionable. But just a few years ago they were very well used and on everyone鈥檚 lips - well almost! There will be a great deal happening with Voices in 2005, because all the material the 成人论坛 collects here in Herefordshire and Worcestershire will be featured on the radio - some of it on Radio 4. And during the first half of 2005, work will go on collecting the audio from different groups and finding new uses for old words and of course phat new words with phat new meanings!
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