I think these new words (or language) are finding there way into mainstream, adn now being recognised. Updating the dictionary becomes a topic of conversation every year with the new inclusions - it used to be slang, or "the in" words, and now it is textspeak, or netspk. Every year they remove words from the dictionary as well. I think it is good they are staying relevant. Those protectors of language that think it is not ok to have this language of popular culture included need to not see it as the death of language - rather it is acknowledging and celebrating language and playing with language, which just highlights the importance and relevance of language ( in all it s forms). And the dictionary can remove it when it becomes no longer relevant ( which will be fun to see how long these abbreviations stay around)
Hi Jennie, I agree! I have to admit I initially thought it was a tad silly that popular initialisms in Internet slang were being added to the Oxford Dictionary; however, I realise that it's important that such mainstream words and phrases are being recognised because language is constantly changing.
Another addition to the dictionary which makes me smirk is the word heart, used as a verb, as in “I heart noodles.” It rose as a snarky parody of those ubiquitous “I ♥ NY” logos and “I ♥ My Shih-Tzu” shirts! haha.
The dictionary actually listed 'heart' as a verb? Noooo!!! That is hilarious and a little crazy! When I read the '<3' symbol, I read it as love. I don't think that I have ever seen it as heart. Jennie is right about LOL, the dictionary is just altering to allow for new ways of speaking. Still, I think that there should be some sort of limit. Otherwise, all of the words that we currently use, could be replaced in the dictionary as ONLY shortened speech. Imagine a dictionary where the words "pls" replaced "please" and "btw" replaced the entire phrase "by the way." Craziness =)
haha. Yes, it would be rather ridiculous if such a dictionary existed in the future! I do agree there is a time and place for using internet slang. I don't think teachers should encourage it in a formal classroom setting.
I think you'll find the OED only introduces new words (in this case, new txtspk abbreviations) when they consider them to be widely established. On the other hand, as Jennie indicates, words do also fall out of use. It certainly will be interesting to see how long some of these txtspk abbreviations last.
You might find it interesting to check out Susie Dent's work on new words - see, e.g., http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0199551995/
I think these new words (or language) are finding there way into mainstream, adn now being recognised. Updating the dictionary becomes a topic of conversation every year with the new inclusions - it used to be slang, or "the in" words, and now it is textspeak, or netspk. Every year they remove words from the dictionary as well. I think it is good they are staying relevant.
ReplyDeleteThose protectors of language that think it is not ok to have this language of popular culture included need to not see it as the death of language - rather it is acknowledging and celebrating language and playing with language, which just highlights the importance and relevance of language ( in all it s forms). And the dictionary can remove it when it becomes no longer relevant ( which will be fun to see how long these abbreviations stay around)
Hi Jennie,
ReplyDeleteI agree! I have to admit I initially thought it was a tad silly that popular initialisms in Internet slang were being added to the Oxford Dictionary; however, I realise that it's important that such mainstream words and phrases are being recognised because language is constantly changing.
Another addition to the dictionary which makes me smirk is the word heart, used as a verb, as in “I heart noodles.” It rose as a snarky parody of those ubiquitous “I ♥ NY” logos and “I ♥ My Shih-Tzu” shirts! haha.
The dictionary actually listed 'heart' as a verb? Noooo!!! That is hilarious and a little crazy! When I read the '<3' symbol, I read it as love. I don't think that I have ever seen it as heart. Jennie is right about LOL, the dictionary is just altering to allow for new ways of speaking. Still, I think that there should be some sort of limit. Otherwise, all of the words that we currently use, could be replaced in the dictionary as ONLY shortened speech. Imagine a dictionary where the words "pls" replaced "please" and "btw" replaced the entire phrase "by the way." Craziness =)
ReplyDeletehaha. Yes, it would be rather ridiculous if such a dictionary existed in the future! I do agree there is a time and place for using internet slang. I don't think teachers should encourage it in a formal classroom setting.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll find the OED only introduces new words (in this case, new txtspk abbreviations) when they consider them to be widely established. On the other hand, as Jennie indicates, words do also fall out of use. It certainly will be interesting to see how long some of these txtspk abbreviations last.
ReplyDeleteYou might find it interesting to check out Susie Dent's work on new words - see, e.g., http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0199551995/