Ethay ickquay ownbray oxfay umpedjay overway ethay azylay ogday, or, in plain English, the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

When I was a lad and teenage girls were infuriating creatures, mainly because they were so secretive, I was desperate to know more about them, to be let into their world. But they took delight in keeping that door firmly shut.

One of the ways they did it was through Pig Latin, an example I show above. It’s a secret language that kids – or at least some of the girls I was interested in – spoke amongst themselves to show that the uninitiated were not part of the conversation.

I never got the hang of it. Pig Latin is confusing but simple. It’s a language game where you rearrange words by moving initial consonants to the end and adding “ay” or “way.” For words starting with a vowel, simply add “way.” For words with a consonant, move the consonant to the end and add “ay.”

For example, “dog” becomes “og-day”, “pickles” becomes “ickles-pay” and “grandma” becomes “anmma-gray”. If the word starts with a vowel, add “way” to the end. So “elephant” becomes “elephant-way”.

Some got pretty good at it, jabbering away amongst themselves and irritating the boys no end.

That’s all ancient history now and I managed to discover that older girls were much more interesting anyway. Pig Latin was innocent fun, but I have lately realised that there is another secret language that I am woefully ignorant about. And may be a trap for the unwary – the secret language of emojis.

Have you been following the case of Judge President Selby Mbenenge, in court on charges of sexual harassment? His crimes? Using emojis of peaches, bananas and eggplants (brinjal to us Natal folk) in WhatsApp messages to his secretary. Apparently, they are emoji code for genitals.

Now there’s a lot more to the case, but I’m horrified that I have been blissfully unaware of the “secret language” of emojis.

Young people have always used different slang to older generations. It’s pretty obvious that the secret emoji language could be used with the intention of keeping those meanings hidden from adults.

Adults may see a flurry of seemingly cute pictures pop up on a child’s phone and not realise that they are potentially viewing racist comments, a drug deal, a sexual proposition or online bullying. The double meaning can also allow deniability if questioned – for example, a child sending a picture of a frog (which can mean ugly) to taunt a peer could claim they were simply sending a fun picture, if challenged.

People my age would see emojis as fun things you might add to a WhatsApp message to brighten it up. You know, a champagne glass or a sparkler or a heart or two. Means little.
Or maybe not. Fr’instance, a young woman I have known for a long time, great character, peppers her WhatsApps with red hearts and sparklers and generally happy thoughts. She’s not flirting, I am well aware of that, just a bouncy person.

So when I reply, I think well I should also add some emojis to show that I’m happy to hear from her! So should I add a red heart? Nah, that might be a bit forward. I’ll choose a purple one from the array on my phone. I love you too, but not in that way.

Oh dear. According to the emoji translator I’ve just Googled, a purple heart means I’m, ahem, sexually aroused. A yellow one or a pink one wouldn’t be any better. Oh my, what have I done! Can’t take it back now can I!

This is a minefield. I haven’t sent brinjals and mealies and peaches and whatever on the spur of the moment and with the flick of a thumb, but I realise I could embarrass myself thoroughly.

On the other hand, the older people I mainly text don’t read too much into a happy heart and a smiling face here and there (I think). Ignorance is bliss for us elders, but I advise older people to consult an emoji translator before you send them to your receptionist or Pilates teacher or, God forbid, your nieces, nephews and grandchildren!

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