Level up

[Victor Steinbok]

The expression in the context "need X points to level up" has been
around for a while. Can't say for certain, but MIT gamers have used it
in the 1990s for sure. I'm too lazy to look for details right now, but
the expression is not recent.

     VS-)

On 4/19/2013 1:15 AM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
> On two games, recently, I've run into "level up" when I move up a level. I've always considered that to be a Japanese expression (reberu appu), so this usage surprised me.
>
> In Japanese, appu is in common use, such as CPU appu suru (get a better CPU for your computer) and boryuumu appu (< volume up, meaning more volume such as a bigger meal).
>
> I wonder if this is a re-import from Japanese, borrowed from "English" found on Japanese video games.
>
> It has the advantage of being pithy; if "level up" were not around, what would have been used? Level X!, or perhaps spelling it out....
>
> Benjamin Barrett
> Seattle, WA

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org