“Is Social Networking A Different Language?”

Instructions: Write a short paper on this topic. Be sure to include some of the saying we use, which one’s you understand and don’t understand, and most of all discuss if social networking language is in fact different from our every day language.

The Process: Before starting this short essay assignment for DS106 I searched for as many acronyms that are commonly used for social media purposes as I knew of via google and my own personal experiences. In google search I typed “The meaning of LoL” and it brought me here. These are all commonly used and I pretty much knew them all already but before I write the essay based solely on my knowledge I wanted to make sure I was correct. I also took a photo of someones comment about the meaning of “LMAO” and they wrote “Love me at once” <— LOL    Also below I have a short list of commonly used acronyms.

The picture was from my iphone I took it here on this page on this page.

A Short List of common Acronyms:

LOL- Laugh out loud LMAO- Laughing my (explicit) off WTF- What the (explicit) FML- (explicit) my life BRB- Be right back G2G- got to go OMG- oh my God/gosh SMH- Shake my head BTW- by the way… BTW this list goes on and on.

A New Language

Social networking sites have become increasingly popular within this decade and involves millions if not billions of users. This increase in use of social networking is due to the advancements in technology, and making the internet and online experiences available to most of the world via computers, smart phones and technology such as the iPad. All of this technology would be useless without apps like Skype or Facebook that connect users in ways like never before. These quick and easy free ways to communicate have become a phenomenon  and also the “reason” users use these products.

Along with the fast way to communicate people have also developed acronyms to replace certain ways of communication such as “LOL” which means laughing out loud and “FML” which means (explicit) my life. This new way of writing has engrained itself into main stream media on all levels and has become the “norm”. The reason why users have created of these acronyms is to substitute for the absence of emotions, when people are speaking in person they are able to see facial expression and hear laughter or crying etc. However, when people communicate through the internet it can be difficult to convey emotional feelings.

Another source used to convey emotions and sometimes replaces the acronyms are images such as =) =( these are very basic and there are more graphic images out there called Emoji’s (in Japan). Emoji‘s are a very effective way of expressing feelings and sometimes even explaining something that is simple in nature but somehow language barrier might make it difficult so Emoji’s can become handy.

Conclusion: FYI For your information

Social networking and the use of language within social networking come hand in hand and if you do not know the meaning of the common acronyms I have listed then you are far behind the power curb and there might not be any saving you. There are however acronyms that I have come across which I still dont quite understand so dont feel bad. A few years ago when Twitter became popular I didnt quite get what the hash tag was for, I thought it was putting an emphasis on something. Little did I know it was merely a tool used to connect people who may feel the same way about a subject. Cyber language may take years for older people to understand but for the younger generations it will be as easy as walking a dog.

The Assignment
This is my first time doing a Writing Assignment and it’s called Is Social Networking A Different Language? by Colin Schulz. The directions read:

Some professionals believe the language we use on social networking sites is different from everyday language. They say this because of the words like g2g, ttul that we use on a consistent basis over text messaging, aim, and Facebook messenger. Write a short paper on this topic. Be sure to include some of the saying we use, which one’s you understand and don’t understand, and most of all discuss if social networking language is in fact different from our every day language.

The Process
There’s not much to say for the process because I’m just going to write about my opinions on the language used in social networking sites.
I’m a little worried if I’ll be able to write a decent essay on this topic because I’m not really good at writing essays. But I chose this assignment because I think this assignment is really related to our class topic, Surfin’ on Sunshine. We’ve been discussing some ideas on how the future will turn out with technology improving. Well, I guess I’ll start with my essay.

The Story
Social networking sites have become very popular over the last few years due to the improvements of technology. Using computers have become a common thing and many people would suffer life without Internet. People keep in touch with their friends on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Mixi, and other sites. The Internet has made us able to communicate with others faster. When people talk to their friends on these sites, they have started to use symbols and shortened words so that it is easier and faster to type and read. Also, the words used on these social networking sites are different from the words used in our everyday language.

Many of us abbreviate words when talking to a friend online because it is much easier and faster to type. Typing out each word is tiring and grammar and spellings does not matter as long as the main point of the message is sent to your friend. When I talk with my friend online, I don’t bother to check my grammar or spellings because I know my friend will understand what I want to say even if my sentences are not structured properly. Often, I will abbreviate words such as about, because, that, want to, and other words that I will never abbreviate when writing essays. There are also words I only use on social networking sites such as acronyms and slangs. Some acronyms are: brb (be right back), btw (by the way), idk (I don’t know), ttyl (talk to you later); and slangs include approx (approximately), gimme (give me), fosho (for sure). Most of these words will not be used when I’m talking to my friend directly. One acronym I did not understands was rofl (tolling on the floor laughing). My friend kept on using it so I had to ask her what she was saying. These acronyms are easy to type but for people like me, who don’t know much of the Internet acronyms and slangs, are having a hard to keep up. People use this because when talking to a friend online, they talk as though they are actually speaking to their friend. Therefore, their conversations needs to be fast and short.

However, the abbreviations and acronyms used online is not the problem people need to realise. I think the poor grammar and spellings we use online is making our English level lower. Because we use the wrong grammar and spellings everyday, it will become our habit and when writing our essays, we may not realise our mistakes. Little kids also have access to computers and phones and they will start using wrong spellings and will not check their grammar when sending messages to their friends. Because they are still learning the basics of grammar and spellings, the language used on the social networking sites will give them negative influences and might interfere with their education. This is a problem people should be aware of or else the future kids will all be speaking in broken English and writing essays with horrible grammar and spellings.