Digital LingaPhony
The English language has seen its share of transitions from archaic to modern styles. But it is all overshadowed by the current shape it’s taken through the various channels of the World Wide Web.
Now, you may consider yourself up to date with the ongoing linguistic trends in the online medium, but you are also probably oblivious to its aftermath. No doubt there are a lot of tenderfoots out there who probably don’t comprehend a word of what you’re attempting to convey through your social media expressions. Nevertheless they do display an eagerness to join the bandwagon.
People jump at any small opportunity to save their precious time and energy. And in the process of accommodating the addictive social media into our fast paced lives, we have given rise to this futuristic lingo. It first surfaced through SMS communication, but now has hugely been incorporated in the online medium.
What we do not realize is the impact it has on our generation. Let me give you some obvious examples:
• Usage of new groundbreaking short forms/Abbreviations – ‘LOL, OMG’
• Innovative new ways of spelling words ‘Lurrve you foreva darlin’!!’, ‘That is so Kewl, dude’
• CrEaTInG oNLinE wAveS (Painful visual experience)
• Invention of words never heard or known before: w00t
• Emoticons :) :( :’( :P
Such trends are playing havoc with the grammar, vocabulary, spelling skills and communication techniques of the current generation. It is alarming how low their language skills have dropped. And this reflects on professional grounds too. It has lately begun to emerge in people’s offline writing too. We hear increasing cases of how kids use online jargons or pour out buckets of emoticons onto their exam papers and assignments. Not done, don’t you think?
Let’s revive the good old English language by resorting to our conventional ways & minimize the usage of the so called ‘Net Lingo’.
Hey Reema!
I just happened to read your article and couldn’t stop letting my mind ponder over this issue. Having interacted with various fellow students, it dawns to me how much gravity this situation holds. It’s pretty amusing to see that the so called ‘Net Lingo’ has not only taken over assignments and exam papers but it is also pretty much the basis of a conversation among the youth. The “yeah man’s”, “whateva’s”, “omg’s” have become common place now and you are absolutely right in saying that it is high time we pull up our socks and get back the originality of this language.
Hi Reema,
Congrats on your first online blogging!! Your article is so enlightening and refreshing, hopefully it is also an eye-opener to all those so called ‘net savvy’ guys and girls who are most of the time busy using their typing skills for communicating. With such rampant use or rather misuse of the English language, it would be quite a waste to see our talented and hardworking youths succumb to mediocre speaking and writing skills. Lets hope things changer for better.
So, Reema – keep up the good work. God bless our generation!
I totally agree. Net lingo is just an unwanted parasite. Born out of the need to write and type faster, the language’s shortest form has made english all the less comprehensible and beautiful.