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50 Linguistic Leaps

Viral Internet Language Changes and Word Inventions

— October 11, 2009 — Pop Culture
The Internet has become the number one decider in language transformations and new word inventions. Internet language requires new words, and promotes the reinvention of old ones.

From Urban Dictionary to Twitter, Internet language is moving at the speed of light. Words that are too long are changed or forgotten with 140 character limits. Slang goes viral when it hits social media. Like it or not, Internet language is here to stay.

Implications - It is important that students be able to distinguish between an academic language and one that is appropriate for the Internet. I definitely can't see a university professor dishing out an 'A' for an essay that says 'LOL.'
4.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
50
Vintage Language Revivals
Vintage Language Revivals
'Snollygoster' Brought Back by Heated Public Spat
<
49
Twitter Personal Ads
Twitter Personal Ads
Radaroo Microblogs the Language of Love
<
48
Translating Culture
Translating Culture
Olympics Trigger Linguistic Makeover for Strange Chinese Meals
<
47
Lip-Reading Computers
Lip-Reading Computers
New Technology Lets You Read Lips & Identify Languages
<
46
Social Site Lingo
Social Site Lingo
Twitter Gains Entry into Dictionary as Both a Verb and Noun
<
45
Short & Sweet Web Stories
Short & Sweet Web Stories
'One Sentence' Tells True Tales in Few Words Online
<
44
Slang-Speaking Cash Machines
Slang-Speaking Cash Machines
ATMs in the UK get a Cockney Language Option
<
43
Apparel for Word Nerds
Apparel for Word Nerds
The Dictionary Shirt
<
42
Twitterfied Words
Twitterfied Words
'Thsrs' is an Online Thesaurus Perfect For Social Networking Sites
<
41
Web Beyond Roman Alphabet
Web Beyond Roman Alphabet
Domains in 12 Languages
<
40
Crowdsourced Dictionaries
Crowdsourced Dictionaries
Germany's Duden Dictionary Lets You Add New Words
<
39
Wordy Wall Mounts
Wordy Wall Mounts
The 'Word Clock' is a Unique Time Teller for Language Lovers
<
38
Fake Language Song Becomes Viral
Fake Language Song Becomes Viral
Spain's Entry into Eurovision 2008
<
37
'Mouse Potato' and 'Google' are among dictionary's new words
'Mouse Potato' and 'Google' are among dictionary's new words
<
36
Language Learning 2.0
Language Learning 2.0
The Speaking Pen
<
35
Dictionary Word of the Year
Dictionary Word of the Year
Mirriam-Webster "w00t to the World!"
<
34
WordSource
WordSource
The Social Dictionary
<
33
Next Gen Baby Naming
Next Gen Baby Naming
SMS Language Influences Name Choice
<
32
Cussing English Lessons
Cussing English Lessons
YouTube Community Laughs at Evil235's Naughty Language Lesson
<
31
The Visual Dictionary
The Visual Dictionary
Find Pictures That Show Your Words
<
30
Words in Waterfalls
Words in Waterfalls
Aquascript Gets Your Message Across Both Indoors and Outdoors
<
29
Trivialising Serious Issues
Trivialising Serious Issues
Language School Ads
<
28
Ads That  Define Beauty
Ads That Define Beauty
Maybelline New York Goes Dictionary Style To Sell Mascara
<
27
Big-Speech Body Language
Big-Speech Body Language
Joe Navarro Rates Sarah Palin
<
26
Cuss Cards
Cuss Cards
Expand Your Swearing to 7 Languages
<
25
New SMS Language
New SMS Language
Teens Using Codes to Throw Off Adults
<
24
Tagging
Tagging
The Language of the Graffiti Artist
<
23
Sign Language Translators
Sign Language Translators
HandTalk Glove
<
22
Words as Art Medium
Words as Art Medium
Graham Gillmore Uses Words as Symbols and Creative Images
<
21
Linguistic Turf Wars
Linguistic Turf Wars
Soda vs Pop Map Settles the Score
<
20
New USB Dictionary and Thesaurus
New USB Dictionary and Thesaurus
<
19
Hand Sign Clocks
Hand Sign Clocks
The Robotic Hands Clock Tells Time With Sign Language
<
18
Text-Based Exhibits
Text-Based Exhibits
'Text Pieces' by Stefan Bruggemann Explore the Power of Words
<
17
Interactive Tongue Posters
Interactive Tongue Posters
Clever Ad for Korean Institute of Foreign Languages
<
16
Picture-Based Definitions
Picture-Based Definitions
The Photographic Dictionary
<
15
Words as Water
Words as Water
Stellar Typography Sink by Richard J. Evans
<
14
Advertising for Word Nerds
Advertising for Word Nerds
Montreal Gazette Proves That Words Matter
<
13
3D Visual Words
3D Visual Words
Lauren Duly Gives Literal Definitions With an Artful Touch
<
12
Wordy Art Exhibits
Wordy Art Exhibits
Seasick Mama's 'My Six Words' Sends out Interesting Messages
<
11
Anti-Gay Language PSAs
Anti-Gay Language PSAs
Hilary Duff Discourages Homophic Slang
<
10
Sign Language Translators
Sign Language Translators
Mac Funamizu Design Helps the Hearing-Impaired Communicate
<
9
Fashion Icons as Dictionary Designers
Fashion Icons as Dictionary Designers
Karl Lagerfeld Illustrates 'La Petit Larousse Illustre'
<
8
Kaleidoscopic Pretzel Hands
Kaleidoscopic Pretzel Hands
Randi Antonsen Takes Sign Language to a New Level
<
7
Fictional Wordvertising
Fictional Wordvertising
Snickers Creates New Words For Delicious Ad Campaign
<
6
Ancient Typographic Rebirth
Ancient Typographic Rebirth
‘Angels & Demons' Ambigram Reignites Love for Mirror Words
<
5
Dictionary-Based Interior Design
Dictionary-Based Interior Design
Branimir Sabljic's Decor is Perfect for Word Nerds
<
4
Liquid Speech Photography
Liquid Speech Photography
Alison Brady Captures Bloody Words and Bitter Sayings
<
3
Lip-Syncing iPhone Apps
Lip-Syncing iPhone Apps
'Mouth Off' Gives Your Words a Virtual Mouthpiece
<
2
Hot for Hot For Words
Hot for Hot For Words
<
1
Marina Orlova, Star of Hot For Words (INTERVIEW)
Marina Orlova, Star of Hot For Words (INTERVIEW)
<