There was a time long ago when the
SMS language swayed an entire generation and works like frnds and thnx became
popular. People preferred writing constricted forms of words to spelling those
out in full. Soon after, there came another age when people using truncated
words would be ridiculed and writing correct spellings and grammatically perfect
sentences would again become the norm.
However, life seems to have come
full circle, with Social Media taking over the Internet. As Facebook, Twitter
and other popular social media platforms shot into prominence, acronyms and
slangs became the most easily identified parts of the script. Languages grow
and evolve with the society that speaks them. The power, tenacity and life of a
language are reflected in its capability to incorporate with ease the changing
facets of its patron society.
Slangs such as BTW (by the way),
LOL (Laugh out loud) and HBD (Happy Birthday) are growing daily. Communication
over Internet is more about speed than language accuracy. The reason why people
resort to short words is need for prompt communication and multitasking. On
Internet everyone is Vocal and requires an array of such words. Many of these
words have found their own rightful place in the dictionary. Notably, gherao,
bandh and selfie are some such.
The flow of words between Internet
usage and popular culture goes both ways. What made the word selfie common in
general use was the action of taking self-pictures rather than the word itself.
Clicking one’s own image conformed to both cultural and technological spheres. The
Oxford dictionary has provided some of these slangs the much needed relegation.
Imagining a world without these internet lingos today seems as difficult as
imagining one without Facebook.
So, next time you comment ROFL on
something on social media, just scroll up and see other comments on this viral
post. Chances are one will find many more slangs to serve as synonyms for ROFL
or even more quirky words that might be waiting to enter dictionary.
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