On Naming Lego’s Various Bricks and Pieces

While far from a comprehensive study on the development of hyper-local languages, Giles Turnbull’s ad hoc research on how different children name Lego’s various building blocks is an interesting, albeit quirky, glimpse into the ways we build internal dialogues and communicate with one another. Though Lego has created official names for all of their pieces, as Turnbull notes, it appears that most families develops their own unique nomenclature which, within in the proper context, can be understood by anyone. So when presented with a table full of Lego bricks, when someone asks you for a bent four-er or burger bottom, chances are you’ll know what they’re talking about.

A complete PDF detailing Turnbull’s findings can be downloaded here.

[via the Morning News]