Well, first off; I have to ask which definition of "hacker" we're running off of here: From the Jargon File ("Around 1988"[0]): HACKER [originally, someone wh

Well, first off; I have to ask which definition of "hacker" we're running off of here: From the Jargon File ("Around 1988"[0]): HACKER [originally, someone who makes furniture with an axe] n. 1. A person who enjoys learning the details of programming systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. 2. One who programs enthusiastically, or who enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about programming. 3. A person capable of appreciating hack value (q.v.). 4. A person who is good at programming quickly. Not everything a hacker produces is a hack. 5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does work using it or on it; example: "A SAIL hacker". (Definitions 1 to 5 are correlated, and people who fit them congregate.) 6. A malicious or inquisitive meddler who tries to discover information by poking around. Hence "password hacker", "network hacker". If were talking one through four, you can probably just look at talks by open source project leaders at various conferences. Take a look at various bulletin boards, etc. If were talking 6, then I would like to add that in my experience the speech used generally changes with skill and age. The security experts I've met, who seemed worthy of the title, seemed to have a very sophisticated sort of tone, almost formal. But I don't have very much experience in this area. Though I agree with SiVal, minute for minute, research spent on technical accuracy will translate into more believable dialogue on stage than anything else you could do. If you want to hear a phreaker talk about how he became a phreaker for three hours, these tapes will be perfect for you: ftp://ftp.wideweb.com/GroupBell/HowBPhreak1HQ.zip ftp://ftp.wideweb.com/GroupBell/HowBPhreak2HQ.zip ftp://ftp.wideweb.com/GroupBell/HowBPhreak3HQ.zip ftp://ftp.wideweb.com/GroupBell/HowBPhreak4HQ.zip ftp://ftp.wideweb.com/GroupBell/HowBPhreak5HQ.zip ftp://ftp.wideweb.com/GroupBell/HowBPhreak6HQ.zip What year is the story taking place? That's relevant because the terms you might hear today are not the terms you would hear in 1975, or the terms you would hear in 1988. [0]: http://www.dourish.com/goodies/jargon.html http://www.dourish.com/goodies/jargon.html