"Netspeak is a development of millennial significance. A new medium of linguistic
communication does not arrive very often, in the history of the race."(Thurlow, 2003) I suppose it is fascinating to be a part of a culture that is developing such a unique way to speak to each other via text and computer lingo. It is not only a way for people to shrinktalk and text less as far as keying in their information, it also allows for text to refer to things that only the viewer may understand.
I will be 29 in March. To most people that age isn't old, however, when it comes to webspeak I am ancient. I am constantly seeing a jumble of letters together and asking myself, "what does that one mean?" In essence, I feel that webspeak is an easy way to leave adults behind and allow the younger teens to communicate in their own world.
Thurlow's article refers to Herring discussing where linguistic writing will in fact effect the other areas of writing and non-linguistic work. It will directly affect those using it in great amounts. I am glad I am doing my short paper on this topic to learn more about webspeak and how it plays such a mighty role in our culture.
"In essence, I feel that webspeak is an easy way to leave adults behind and allow the younger teens to communicate in their own world. "
ReplyDeleteTo me, that hits the nail on the head. Although there will also be those adult users who use coded text for communications, drug dealers and the like. But for the most part I think it will be the younger generation that uses netspeak. Hopefully, as time goes on, people will want to be "professional" ( for lack of a better word) when postint on the net, especially on more serious sites.
I agree that a lot of people dont know what a lot of things mean when people are using webspeak. A lot of times my mom has to ask what something means in a text message or email that someone has sent her containing webspeak. I dont think it is a generational issue though. I am only 22 and there are plenty of times where i have to ask what something means or stands for.
ReplyDeleteAge is definitely a factor here, but as Daniel points out--it has always been so. Look at movies from the 1950s that centered on teen culture--all the adults are trying to figure out what words like "daddyo" mean; similarly to things like "groovy" in the 60s, etc. Now this youth code is tied to technology,but the motivation is the same--separate the in-group from the out-group.
ReplyDeleteYou made a good point Dan because age plays a major role in webspeak. I stated that in one of my comments earlier. The younger generation is really taking over the webspeak and bring it to a greater level. Words that were used in the olden days may be used as a different definition today's society.
ReplyDeleteVery well said about creating a language that adults can't understand... This has been started MANY MANY times before... Kids have tried to break from the mental control of the parents since the dawn of time cause... Screw those old people right? Didn't we all say that at one point? So what better way to insult them ... Then right in front of their face... Telling mom she just got powned was always a funny thing to do when I was a kid... her face was priceless... trying to figure out what the hell I Was talking about...
ReplyDeleteGeneration Text... We had Pepsi... They got Blackberrys... Go figure...
Whizzle... Izzle...