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Glossary of Street Talk

What makes a slang word worthy of a dictionary definition?

The Collins Millennium Dictionary includes slang words such as ‘chill out’ and ‘wannabe’. But how does this kind of 'street talk' make it into mainstream vocabulary? According to Ian Brooks, one of the Millennium Dictionary’s editors, being used in ‘bodacious’ films, Wayne’s World and Bill & Teds’ Excellent Adventure, helps ‘big time’.

Also on the show, Paven Husandi, editor of I-Ran – an English magazine for young Iranians all around the world – explains what life is like for many second-generation Iranians born in Britain; and find out if being a cabin crew flight attendant really is as glamorous as it sounds.

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29 minutes

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service Archive

This programme was restored as part of the World Service archive project