---
title: A Kiwi uncle texts "sweet as, the barbie's on this arvo" ("barbie" m… — Slang and how it changes with every ge… · tree and pragmatics
description: A Kiwi uncle texts "sweet as, the barbie's on this arvo" ("barbie" means barbecue). Your Gen Alpha cousin replies "bussin'". Do they understand each other? Test 4 of lesson 17 «Slang and how it changes with every generation» of the language course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree a
---

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# Test 4 · Slang and how it changes with every generation

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Kiwi uncle texts "sweet as, the barbie's on this arvo" ("barbie" means barbecue). Your Gen Alpha cousin replies "bussin'". Do they understand each other?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** barbie, Alpha cousin, texts · **What happens:** mean, reply, understand · **To what, where:** barbecue, arvo, bussin, each

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 4 of lesson 17 «Slang and how it changes with every generation» of the language course of Mova's primary school. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: [the test at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/language/17-slang-and-how-it-changes-with-every-generation/#t4).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A Kiwi uncle texts "sweet as, the barbie's on this arvo" ("barbie" means barbecue).

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:17-slang-and-how-it-changes-with-every-generation:t4:1
# text = A Kiwi uncle texts "sweet as, the barbie's on this arvo" ("barbie" means barbecue).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Kiwi	Kiwi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	uncle	uncle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	texts	text	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	barbie	barbie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	14	det	_	_
14	arvo	arvo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	barbie	barbie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	_
20	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
21	barbecue	barbecue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | barbie | barbecue |  | this arvo |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent barbecue=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Your Gen Alpha cousin replies "bussin'".

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:17-slang-and-how-it-changes-with-every-generation:t4:2
# text = Your Gen Alpha cousin replies "bussin'".
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	Gen	Gen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Alpha	Alpha	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	replies	reply	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	bussin	bussin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | present | Your Alpha cousin | bussin |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent bussin=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* Do they understand each other?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:17-slang-and-how-it-changes-with-every-generation:t4:3
# text = Do they understand each other?
1	Do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	3	obj	_	_
5	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understand** | present · do-support | texts *= text* | each |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer each=Stimulus |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No, sweet as means the food is too sugary

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:17-slang-and-how-it-changes-with-every-generation:t4:o1:1
# text = No, sweet as means the food is too sugary
1	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	3	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	nsubj	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	too	too	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	sugary	sugary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | sweet *not said here* | the food |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | sweet |  |  |  |  | sugary *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, both are happy: great, barbecue this afternoon, sounds tasty

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:17-slang-and-how-it-changes-with-every-generation:t4:o2:1
# text = Yes, both are happy: great, barbecue this afternoon, sounds tasty
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	barbecue	barbecue	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
14	tasty	tasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | both |  |  |  |  | happy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | both *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **barbecue** | infinitive |  |  |  |  | afternoon |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **sound** | present |  |  |  |  |  | tasty *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No, bussin' means he's taking the bus instead

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:17-slang-and-how-it-changes-with-every-generation:t4:o3:1
# text = No, bussin' means he's taking the bus instead
1	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	3	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	bussin	bussin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	ccomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | bussin |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **take** | present · progressive | bussin | the bus |  |  |  | instead *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bus=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, they both say the doll is coming round

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:17-slang-and-how-it-changes-with-every-generation:t4:o4:1
# text = Yes, they both say the doll is coming round
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	both	both	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	doll	doll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	ccomp	_	_
10	round	round	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | they |  |  |  |  | both *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **come round** | present · progressive | the doll |  |  |  |  | round *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (`world/data/school/`), as the course runner gave them to the student. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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