Leet
From Ultimatewiki
Leet or Leetspeak (often written in Leet as 1337 or 13375p34k, or 13375p33|<) is a writing system used primarily on the Internet, particularly on IRC but nowadays also in online games such as Counter-Strike, RuneScape, Ragnarok Online, and Team Fortress and almost all games online - although use of it is frowned upon within Kingdom of Loathing. It is based upon the writing of words using characters other than the correct ones that look similar to the Roman alphabet. The term itself is derived from the word Elite, meaning “better than the rest,” and generally has the same meaning when referring to the hacking skills of another person.
Leet can be defined as the perturbation or modification of written text. For example, the term leet itself is often written l33t, or 1337, and many other variations. Such perturbations are frequently referred to as “Leetspeak”. In addition to modification of standard language, new colloquialisms have been added to the parlance. It is also important to note that Leet itself is not solely based upon one language or character set. Greek, Russian, Chinese, and other languages have been subjected to the Leet variety. As such, while it may be referred to as a “cipher,” a “dialect,” or a “language,” Leet does not fit squarely into any of these categories. This article primarily concerns the English language variant of Leet.
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Common words in Leet
Pwn
Pwn refers to the domination of a player in a video game or argument (rather than just a win). For example, in a multiplayer FPS game, a player with a default starting gun defeats an opponent carrying a vastly superior weapon. This would indicate dominant skill in the player with the inferior weapon, who outplayed (pwned) the player with superior firepower. As is a common characteristic of Leet, the term has also been adapted into a noun and adjective, pwnage, indicating the superiority of its subject (e.g., “She is a very good player. She is pwnage.”).
There are several commonly accepted theories about its origin, most of which suggest derivation from the word own, a term once used by hackers to indicate full control over a computer. The word pwn means virtually the same as own. Some people pronounce pwn as p'own or poon. The correct pronunciation is simply own. Since the letter p on a QWERTY keyboard is right next to the letter o, it likely derives from a typographical error, which was eventually embraced by Leetspeakers.
A few theories state that pwn originates from “pure ownage,” “player own,” “power own,” “perfectly own,” or "pistol own." Using pwn rather than own means that one has beaten his opponent to a higher degree than own. Another theory is that the term came into being through the misspelling of the word pawn, pawn being the lowest prized chess piece. Therefore, when one has pwned someone, they have captured a more highly prized and powerful piece, such as a bishop, rook, or queen, with the lowest piece, hence pawn. However, even this word has been purposefully used as p4wn3d, as in, “I p4wn3d you.”
Another theory is based around online forum speak, where the text :p is usually seen as a smiley sticking its tongue out. Users would type :pwned and when the program rendered :p, it would show up as a round face, standing in for the o.
Yet another theory is that a Warcraft custom map maker misspelled "own" in his map. The phrase then spread. One more theory is that a Counter-Strike mod maker also misspelled "own" when writing a script to have "[Player1] just got (p)wned by [Player2]!"
All theories denote supreme victory over one's opponent.
n00b
Within Leet, the term n00b (and derivations thereof) is used extensively. The word, meaning newbie (as in, new and inexperienced or uninformed), is used as a means of segregating the “elite” members of a group from outsiders. There have been other variations of the term. For example, nub, nubcake (sometimes spelled nubcaek), naab (from the Pakistani accent), 'n00blin', "neeb", "nubsauce", and n00blet (a n00b who is, or acts like, a child).
Though they are often used interchangeably, there is a widely accepted separation of the definitions of newb and n00b: a newb is a person who is new to something, while a n00b is a detestable or inferior person. It is used in a derogatory sense, implying the target is being ignorant of his or her own failures, blaming others without reason, failing to learn, etc. Example: “Player one is a newb because he joined the game yesterday. Player two is a n00b, because he has played the game for a year and still can't win.” The word noob is the most common insult in all online games.
In primitive Leet, as used on BBS systems in the 1980s and into the very early 1990s, the usual term was Christmas Kiddie. A variant was greenie or Christmas greenie which was derived from the cowboy slang greenhorn. Christmas Kiddie which referred to the phenomenon where BBS systems were flooded with new members immediately following Christmas and Hanukkah because modems were a common holiday gift. If the kiddie was young, the term ruggie (derived from rugrat meaning child) might be used.
As the Internet evolved and modems saw a decline, the term Christmas Kiddie was shortened to just Kiddie with the meaning morphing slightly to indicate someone who did not know a lot about what they were doing online, and were just running scripts provided by other, more experienced users. This typically, but not necessarily, referred to children or noobs who had recently discovered the online world and were experimenting with various hacking scripts available.
The terms "ch00b" and "fr00b" are used to refer to someone who for example, is high leveled yet acts like a "n00b". "z0mg j00 pr4y3r n00b" "u 4 ch00b"
LOL
Among the early Internet slang was LOL, an indication of appreciation of humor, literally meaning “Laughing Out Loud” or “Lots Of Laughs”. Similar acronyms were quickly added to the lexicon, including ROFL (“Rolling On [the] Floor, Laughing”), LMAO (“Laughing My Ass Off”), and ROTFLOL (Rolling On The Floor Laughing Out Loud), and of course ROTFLMAO (Which is obviously ROTF+LMAO). Derivations of the acronym quickly became incorporated into the Leet vocabulary. LOL can also be displayed typed as lawl Amongst black internet users there is ROFLMBAO (Roll On The Floor Laughing My Black Ass Off)
Leet is prone to the corruption of words to suit rhythm and rhyming.Template:Fact This, in addition to various ironic corruptions of the words (such as ROFLcaeks, ROFLcopter, LMAOnade, LMAOtank, LOLLERskates, LMAOynnaise, LOLLERgasm, LOLipops, LOLLERcaust, and LOLLERcoaster, etc.), has led to the creation of tongue-in-cheek words and phrases that don't actually utilize the original acronym, such as “roffle my woffles [sic]” and lawlsauce. Many people will pronounce the acronym as an actual word. For example, instead of saying each letter individually (“L-O-L”), the speaker will phoneticize the acronym's pronunciation (lawl or loll). More often than not, however, lawl or lawlz, is used sarcastically as a contrast to LOL in a number of ways. It can be used in place of "LOL" to express how a joke was, in actuality, unfunny. It can be used in a self-deprecating fashion, resembling something of a resigned sigh (e.g. "I just got owned again. Lawl."). It can be used to provide additional sarcasm to a statement (e.g. "Yeah, best idea evar. Lawl."). It can also sometimes be used in a sarcastic but non-hostile manner to express weak amusement, much like a polite laugh or the emotive term, "heh.".
The word "lawl" is now starting to be used, which is the spelling of the pronounciation of lol as a word.
Examples of Leet
Sentences
Example: 7|-|3 [,]|_|1(|< |3|20\\/\\/|\\| |=0>< ]|_|/\\/\\|?5 0\\/3|2 7|-|3 |_42`/ [)09.
Translation: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Example: 1 ]|_|57 |_34|2/\\/3|) \\/\\/|-|47 1337 /\\/\\34/\\/5.
Translation: I just learned what leet means
More common example: 7 |-| 4 7 |\\/| 0 \\/ 3 \\|/ 4 5 1337!!!
Translation: That move was elite!!!
Another common example: 0|\\/|6\\/\\/7|=|3|3Q|-|4><
Translation: OMGWTFBBQHAX
A more basic form: 7h15 15 4 v3ry b451c f0rm 0f 31i73, 0nly 1nv0lv1ng numb3r 5ub5717u710n.
Translation: This is a very basic form of elite, only involving number substitution
Simple examples of slang to 1337 Example of 1337 speak-Y()|_|R /\\/\\()/\\/\\! Translation- Your Mom!
WTF - \\/\\/7|=
OMG - 0/\\/\\6 or 0|\\/|6
BBQ - |3|3Q
PWN - |?\\/\\/|\\|
OWN - 0\\/\\/|\\|
LOL - |_0|_ or |_()|_
HAX - |-|4>< (Sometimes the "X" is not replaced, viz. "|-|4X")
Modern Use
Despite the fact that Leetspeak is now a defining feature of internet society, the practice of writing in the extended script is becoming quite rare. Leetspeak is often the sign of immaturity in many internet communities, and as such the extent to which Leetspeak is used varies widely - some communities using it in a purely ironic context, others still using it as a means of abbreviated communication.
