Hundreds of new Internet slang and phrases are added to the dictionary every year. Some of these are abbreviations, such as FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and YOLO (You Only Live Once). Others are words that have spread to more parts of speech than originally intended, such as when "trend" became a verb ("It's in fashion all over the world"). Others emerged as we adapted our language to new technologies; Think crowdfunding, selfie, cyberbullying. You can see how many of these "new" words are really appropriate, meaning they combine words that already exist or give them entirely new meanings. For example, "social network"became a wordin the 1973 Oxford English Dictionary, which refers to the physical activity of networking in a social setting. In the 1990s, people started using the term to refer to virtual engagement and it became an official definition in 1998. Why are so many new words and phrases popping up on the internet so quickly? How does jargon spread between cities and countries? After all, what does it take for a slang word to become a dictionary word? Let's look at some of the answers to these questions.
Is it the internet's fault?
The internet is not the only technological phenomenon that has changed the way we speak. Radio, television and the telephone have added a whole range of new words and phrases to our lexicon over the last century.
For example, the phrase TTFN (Ta Ta For Now)comes fromthe radio series "It's That Man Again" in the 1940s. The word "doh" was also made famous by Homer SimpsonThe Simpsonsbecame an official wordin the Oxford English Dictionary "used to comment on some foolish or foolish action, especially one's own". directory assistance.
But as we spend more time online,we spend less timeListening to radio, television and smartphones has blurred the lines between the phone and the internet. At this point, the internet is probably the dominant influence in our daily conversation.
Think about how quickly internet trends come and go. The rapid pace of change on the Internet means we are adopting more words faster than ever before. "Language itself changes slowly, but the internet has sped up the process of making those changes, so you'll notice them more quickly," says David Crystal, honorary professor of linguistics at Bangor University.sayingBBC News.You can imagine how much longer it took for new words to spread by word of mouth than it does today with the internet. So how exactly does it spread?
How slang spreads across the internet
The question of how jargon spreads has occupied linguists and anthropologists for decades.Until the advent of public social media, it was difficult to accurately measure the mechanisms of proliferation of new words.
Social networks like Twitter allow linguists to have a more accurate and searchable record of our exchanges. Jacob Eisenstein and his colleagues at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta conducted astudyingExamination of 30 million tweets sent from December 2009 to May 2011 from various US locations. The aim of the study was to identify the origins of slang and track how they spread across the country.
The resulting map shows how these slangs migrated across the country and the direction of this influence:
Thanks to social media, words travel around the world in weeks and months where before it might take years.DataJulie Coleman, author ofcolloquial life🇧🇷 "It's not necessarily that language is changing faster, but technologies have been developed that allow slang terms to be passed from one group to another much more quickly."
Internet slang around the world
As you can imagine, it's not just English-speaking countries that have seen language changes thanks to the internet. "Computer jargon is developing rapidly in Ukraine",DataSvitlana Pyrkalo, BBC World Service Ukraine Service Producer. For example, forcing a shutdown by pressing "Ctrl, Alt, Del" is known as Дуля (dulya). A dulya is a Ukrainian gesture that uses two fingers and a thumb and is used in the same situations where "we'd give the finger". "And you need three fingers to press the buttons," says Pyrkalo. "So it's like telling someone, in this case a computer, to get lost."
Other countries havetook ontheir own versions of common internet acronyms like "OMG" and "LOL". In France, the acronym "mdr" stands for "mort de rire", which means "to die laughing". Swedes write "asg" as an abbreviation of the term asgarv, which means intense laughter. For Thais, the number "5" means the Thai letter "h", so putting three together makes 5,555 "hahaha".
How new words enter the dictionary
So how do new words like the acronym "LOL" make it into the dictionary?
The secret to the success of a new word is its longevity,DataFiona McPherson, editor-in-chief of the New Words Group at the Oxford English Dictionary. To be included in the dictionary, the general population must use and continue to use it. A word must be used for at least five years to be considered, says McPherson. Love it or hate it, when words like "LOL" become commonplace, widely used, well understood, and stick around for more than five years, they are entitled to a place in the big book.
There are many slang words on the internet thatnotB. "Throw" (surfing the web at work). But to say that this word has been rejected would be wrong: this word, among many others, will be revised as its usage increases. The dictionary is a living, breathing document and there is always a chance that a previously rejected word will become the main vocabulary in the future.
This is where even the word "slang" gets a little confusing. Will it be considered a "slang" word until it becomes an official word in the dictionary? When exactly does a word become "real"?
The fact is that a word only becomes "real" - as in, widely used and understood - is itafter thisconsidered for a place in the dictionary."By the time the academy has its dictionary ready, it will already be out of date."DataLinguist Stephen Pinker. “We see this in the constant use of slang and jargon.Language is less a creator and shaper of human nature than a window into human nature."
Turns out dictionary editors are lookingwewhen they vote to add a word to the dictionary. "Dictionaries are fantastic resources, but they are human and not timeless," says language historian Anne Curzanremember us🇧🇷 “If you ask dictionary editors, they'll say they're just trying to keep up with us as we change languages. They watch what we say and what we write, trying to figure out what will stick and what won't.”
There will certainly be language changes that we won't like simply because many of us don't like change, but Curzan believes we should be less quick to impose our likes and dislikes of words on other people. The language switch isn't troubling, he argues, it's fun and fascinating. "I hope you enjoy being part of the creativity that continually innovates and keeps our language strong."
So whether you think Internet slang makes language vital or destroys it, there's no denying how insightful it is to the culture that invents and uses it, and how easily we can adapt our language to new technologies and concepts.
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FAQs
How Internet slang changes the way we speak? ›
The phenomenon is called linguistic accommodation, where a speaker alters their speech characteristic by copying those of whoever they are interacting with, to be better understood and accepted by them.
How has slang affected the development of language? ›Language can often be formal or stilted, but slang strips away the pretense and allows people to have fun with language in a way that can playfully disguise their true meaning or help people communicate and connect with each other.
Is Internet slang killing the language or evolving the language? ›54.5% of the web's content is in English with a numbers of users preferring it to other languages. According to Ethnologue, 915 languages across the world are dying, with six of them disappearing each year. The internet may actually be contributing to the death of some global languages.
How did slang develop as well as evolved? ›As a result, slang has evolved drastically due to the influence of texting and other forms of online communication. Particularly intriguing is the fact that social media has influenced language to the point where the connotations of certain words have been changed so that they are now considered slang terms.
Does the language we speak really change the way we think? ›Numerous studies have shown that a new language can change how the human mind pulls information together, hence, enabling bilinguals (and even multilinguals) to have more than one perspective on a particular issue.
Why is slang always changing? ›So where do all these new slang words come from? Language grows and changes over time. New words and new meanings for old words come about all the time. This happens as people seek to express themselves in new, creative ways.
Why is slang such an important part of language? ›More often, slang serves social purposes: to identify members of a group, to change the level of discourse in the direction of informality, to oppose established authority. Sharing and maintaining a constantly changing slang vocabulary aids group solidarity and serves to include and exclude members.
What are the effects of slang? ›Internet slang on social media has affected students' creativity. Excessive use of slang makes them irritable and impatient. All students should try to use whole words in their informal communication to gain command over oral and written skills.
Why is slang important for language learning? ›One of the greatest things about slang (and most annoying for language learners) is that it is one of the fastest evolving forms of language. This means slang words can take on a new meaning over time to reflect a culture's values. Slang can even give standard words new meanings.
Why does slang affect communication? ›Some slang words are new and older persons may not know them. Using these words can inhibit conversation greatly. Sometimes a language gap resulting from slang usage can manifest a language block between people of different generations.
Why is language always evolving and changing? ›
Why does language change? Language changes for several reasons. First, it changes because the needs of its speakers change. New technologies, new products, and new experiences require new words to refer to them clearly and efficiently.
How is slang a language barrier? ›3) Another example, the use of slang makes communication ineffective, such as the use of the word "grass" to describe marijuana in America can act as a barrier for the people who do not know the slang meaning.
What is the use of Internet slang? ›Internet slang often follows one of three forms: Replacing words with similar-sounding characters – for example, 'are' becomes R, or 'too' becomes 2. Acronyms – taking the first letter of multiple words to form a new word, such as 'lol' for 'laughing out loud. '
What are examples of language evolution? ›In linguistic evolution, variation takes the form of new words, pronunciations, and grammatical structures and may come about as the result of human invention. For example, people arriving on an uninhabited island may find that they need a word for an unfamiliar plant species and simply make one up.
How does the language we speak affect the way we think? ›Numerous studies have shown that a new language can change how the human mind pulls information together, hence, enabling bilinguals (and even multilinguals) to have more than one perspective on a particular issue.
Why do we change the way we speak in different situations? ›More than likely, your speech subconsciously becomes measured and professional. In contrast, when you're around friends, your speech transitions into a casual tone, as you feel more comfortable in this social setting or cultural context. These code-switches become more noticeable based on the social setting.
How does language change and who changes it? ›Language learning: Language is transformed as it is transmitted from one generation to the next. Each individual must re-create a grammar and lexicon based on input received from parents, older siblings and other members of the speech community.
What are the benefits of slang? ›- Idioms and Slang are Important for Communication. ...
- Idioms and Slang Represent the Culture. ...
- Idioms and Slang Are the Future. ...
- Idioms and Slang Are a Form of Creative Expression. ...
- Learning Idioms and Slang Prevents Misunderstandings.
The study concludes there are positive effects on language changes, which include the accommodation of new inventions, standardization of the language and the linguistic historic evolution. There are also negative effects based on communication challenges, misunderstanding and linguistic interferences.
What is the role of slang in society? ›Slang offers commonality to a group or community, and establishes the similarities between members of a group, therefore increasing the cohesiveness of a group.
Is slang positive or negative? ›
Slang can be positive or negative in power or capacity depending upon its use in communication encounters. Negative slang refers to casual dialogue, such as commonly used verbal obscenities that listeners may perceive as offensive (Joseph P.
What are the three main reasons of language change? ›- Semantic bleaching. It was “unbelievable”…even if it was only spaghetti bolognese. ...
- Synchronic variation. Too “lit”-eral for our liking. ...
- Movement of people. Cultural word-swapping is fluid. ...
- Simplification. Clearing the clutter from language makes it so much simpler. ...
- Prestige.
Definition. Evolution of language is the gradual change in human language over time. It involves the origin and divergence of languages and language families, and can be considered analogous to biological evolution, although it does not necessarily occur through the same mechanisms.
What is the evolution of language called? ›Evolutionary linguistics or Darwinian linguistics is a sociobiological approach to the study of language.
What are examples of slang language? ›- Bee's knees. This perplexing rhyme is a nonsense phrase that describes something excellent. ...
- Quid and other money-related slang. ...
- DIY. ...
- Telly. ...
- Lost the plot. ...
- Skiving. ...
- Not fussed. ...
- Killing me.
Special terms can be useful shorthand within a particular audience and may be the clearest way to communicate with that group. However, going beyond necessary technical terms to write in jargon can cause misunderstanding or alienation, even if your only readers are specialists.
Why do we need to avoid slang words in communication? ›Using slang or filler words can distract and annoy your audience. More importantly, these words can erode your audience's confidence in what you have to offer. Avoid the following slang and filler words to better convey your message and instill confidence in your audience: You guys.
Is slang good for language? ›"Learning slang in language allows you to remain current in your spoken ability, and makes it possibly to hold fluent conversations with people of all generations", - says Mary Walton, a researcher from SimpleGrad. It also helps you communicate with people throughout different regions within a country.
When did Internet slang begin? ›The origins of Internet slang can be reached as far as the first text messages, originated by GMS in 1985.
How languages change and evolve? ›Just like gene mutation, languages transform as they're passed down from one generation or geographical region to the next: a process known as linguistic drift. The process of “replicating” language over time is imperfect, and it's shaped by input from parents, siblings, peers and the larger community.
What are the 3 types of language change? ›
Traditional theories of historical linguistics identify three main types of change: systematic change in the pronunciation of phonemes, or sound change; borrowing, in which features of a language or dialect are altered as a result of influence from another language or dialect; and analogical change, in which the shape ...
What role does slang play in our language? ›The aim of using slang is seldom the exchange of information. More often, slang serves social purposes: to identify members of a group, to change the level of discourse in the direction of informality, to oppose established authority.
How does slang impact society? ›Undoubtedly, slang is important as it allows you to communicate with those around you and also allows you to give your conversation more emphasis. One of the primary reasons we use slang is to establish our identities as members of groups.
What is the impact of excessive slang? ›Excessive use of slang makes them irritable and impatient. All students should try to use whole words in their informal communication to gain command over oral and written skills.
Does slang play a role in language today? ›One of the greatest things about slang (and most annoying for language learners) is that it is one of the fastest evolving forms of language. This means slang words can take on a new meaning over time to reflect a culture's values. Slang can even give standard words new meanings.
What are benefits of slang? ›"Learning slang in language allows you to remain current in your spoken ability, and makes it possibly to hold fluent conversations with people of all generations", - says Mary Walton, a researcher from SimpleGrad. It also helps you communicate with people throughout different regions within a country.
What are the advantages of using slang words in your daily activities? ›- Idioms and Slang are Important for Communication. ...
- Idioms and Slang Represent the Culture. ...
- Idioms and Slang Are the Future. ...
- Idioms and Slang Are a Form of Creative Expression. ...
- Learning Idioms and Slang Prevents Misunderstandings.
As well as lack of trust, overuse of jargon can mean people disconnect from your message, feel isolated and ultimately lead to miscommunication. If everyone understands the jargon, then it can be a very efficient way of communicating.
Why should we avoid slang words? ›You should avoid using slang (words like y'all, yinz, cool) or idiomatic expressions ("pull someone's leg," "spill the beans," and "something smells fishy") in formal academic writing. These words make your writing sound informal, and hence, less credible.
How does social media slang affect learning? ›They feel it difficult to use correct spellings in tests and assignments. Students report that they are unable to use the full words because they have forgotten the right words and feel it quite difficult to take care of this thing in formal writings.
What is slang language in communication? ›
Slang is a form of language that's not considered to be formal English. It's comprised of a group of phrases or words, that are very informal. Slang is more common in speech than in writing, and is often used in a particular context — whether it be cultural, or generational. Don't confuse slang with jargon.
Why should we avoid slang words when we are speaking to our client? ›Jargon can be condescending
When using jargon with customers, these unfamiliar words and phrases can mislead them into believing that they're being talked down to or purposefully confused.