Nicholas Yong ponders the meaning of the word 'boomz'.
I DON'T know about you, but I've been hearing the word 'boomz' a lot lately.
Whether among friends or strangers, on the MRT or the bus, on Facebook or YouTube, it's been resounding everywhere, like a bad trance remix of some rap song.
It's become apparent to me that Ris Low, the unwitting pop culture phenomenon of 2009, has created a word that will surely become a permanent part of our cultural lexicon.
Unlike 'leopard preence' and 'zipbra', this was no malapropism - rather, it was a deliberate, spontaneous, wildly successful attempt to invent a whole new word.
The more prosaic explanation is that she probably meant to say 'va va voom', and badly messed up the pronounciation.
I disagree.
I think Ris Low is an artist. I think what she has created will stand the test of time.
Along with 'kiasu', 'wayang' and the ubiquitous 'wah lau', 'boomz' will surely come to occupy pride of place in the Coxford Singlish Dictionary.
In years to come, we will fondly tell our grandchildren stories of where we were when we first heard the word. And how it made us fall over in our chairs with laughter.
And yet, no one quite knows what it means.
People bandy sentences like "I'm feeling so boomz" and "I’m wearing something boomz" about, often to peals of laughter, but don’t really know what they are saying.
Like Eric Cantona with all his talk of seagulls and trawlers, Ris spun her mysterious web of mispronounced words, then loved us and left us, forever holding her peace (though some of us would probably rather she never spoke again).
Wherefore art thou, Ris? Why will you not come forth in your rad beegini and your profound knowledge of steel, to enlighten us?
Perhaps it is simply meant to be this way. Perhaps, like some holy scriptures handed down to us by the divine, we must needs some prophet to interpret the Word for us.
Or maybe Ris was right. Maybe it really is all about ME. Maybe I can use 'boomz' any way I like, with scant regard for what it actually means.
But surely that won't do. We need a standardised definition, one that can be preserved for posterity long after Ris fades from the scene. Something we can all agree on, and use forevermore.
So - what do you think 'boomz' means? Do tell us, so we can all use it together.
Tags:
boomz,
ris low,
singlish
Awesome lol! I think Boomz is a word to express yourself. like u raise ur hands girlily and say, "boomz!" Girly stuff, u know as a girl myself.
haha!
I lurve that word.
JUST BOOMZ LAH
boomz- i interpret it as 'amazing'
Using BOOMZ! for a good cause
I'm surprised and amused by all the buzz over the word BOOMZ! but I think something positive can be made out of this entire "saga".
First, make some real BOOMZ. I know what a BOOMZ look like.
Next, sell the BOOMZ to the public. With so much interests in BOOMZ, sales should be really good. And perhaps Ris can help promote the BOOMZ.
Finally, all sales proceeds will be given to charity, probably the Association of Credit Card Fraud Victims or something like that.
Criticizing Ris Low and spreading scarsm on the word BOOMZ is negative (but fun). Selling BOOMZ for charity is positive (and still fun).
So, perhaps I'll go order some BOOMZ now and start selling them in my little shop. Maybe it will bring my shop some much needed publicity too. I hope Ris Low will drop by to help promote BOOMZ!
"Boomz" - who says Singaporeans lack creativity ? :-)
To me, "boomz" is like the Singlish translation of "da bomb" - at least now we have our own word to use instead of going around pretending to be from "da hood" !
Ris, you are so "boomz" - and here's to more interesting Singlish originated words !
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