A friend of mine brought up an interesting topic this weekend at a lawn party. She mentioned that lingo changes when technology changes. I didn’t really understand where she was going with the conversation because obviously with the addition of new technology new names follow. She laughed and told me she really meant that it changes how people communicate.
How many times have you heard or seen people type in “LOL,” “ROTFL,” or type in the ever popular “:-)” at the end of a text message? I really didn’t think about it until I opened my phone and scanned previous text messages. I realized I use this shorthand technique of communicating a lot. I figured out that in approximately half of my text messages I use an acronym or symbol to replace text.
I thought back to work and the rest of my life (when I’m not text messaging people), how many times I shorten conversations with quips like “BRB.” It probably would have been just as quick to say “be right back;” however, I’ve gotten so used to typing those three little letters that it now comes out in verbal communication among adults.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) included “LOL” and “OMG” among other words. In March of this year the OED accepted this crazy computer vernacular as words that are now part of the English language. How crazy is it that these terms wouldn’t exist if computers and cell phones didn’t exist? Technology shapes how we communicate.
When talking with my kids who are now sixteen and thirteen, I find their communication is occasionally short and staccato. They’re bright kids, but, conversations with them can be disjointed. I can talk to them for hours, but sometimes I feel like I am talking in text messages. Listening to my kids talk with friends is interesting too. They will banter in text message style sentences with lots of acronyms thrown in. Honestly, I really have a hard time following half of what they said.
At the computer store we have our own set of language too. Outside of shortening up the term “random access memory” to RAM, we have terms that we use to talk about customers behind their backs. For example “I-D-10-T.” We will on occasion find it necessary to openly discuss a customer’s problem as an “eye, dee, ten, tee” error – which of course means we’re calling them an idiot behind their back. BTW (by the way), if you do come into the store and you hear us say that, we’re probably not referring to you. 🙂
I have also discovered this new language doesn’t necessarily span the generations and can really confuse a conversation. My kids live on their phones and netbooks. I don’t remember a time when they were without either. On the other hand, my parents have just recently started text messaging with their phones. I guess it took them a bit of time to realize it’s easier to type something than to have a long drawn out conversation.
Anyways, it’s entertaining to watch my kids text message my parents. It’s bad enough when my kids message me, and when I message my parents. Taking the middleman and one generation gap out of the mix spices up the conversation. Two worlds and two different styles clash and both parties are left wondering what the other is trying to say.
There is a legitimate reason for the evolution and shortening of our language. Text messaging was done on a twelve digit phone so it was a lot of work to type in “laugh out loud.” Additionally, text messages were usually billed by the character. Next time you hear a young person complaining about their phone or service, ask them “DUR” (do you remember?) and follow it up with “EOS” (end of story). TTYL.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can text him at (978) 413-2840 or call him directly at (978) 919-8059.)