Computer Slang

I never realized how our vocabulary is affected by the technologies we use. In everyday conversation there are dozens of words used that all get their base from technology. The article It’s All Geek To Me names some humorous examples of words, most of which I have never heard or used, but got me thinking about how our everyday conversations revolve around technology. Even something as simple as telling someone to call you on your “cell” is a phrase that most people are familiar with. To someone in another part of the world where cell phones are not commonplace this would make no sense at all. As the use of technology increases so do the number of technology phrases. Things like TM, LOL and LMAO all mean something to people familiar with instant messaging but to many, these are just a grouping of letters. With the increasing popularity of Facebook and Myspace comes a whole new set dialogue that older generations not dependent on the internet will never use or understand. As far as I’m concerned I find computer short forms ridiculous and funny especially in normal conversation. I don’t think it’s a laziness factor that causes people to do this but more the fact that they get used to replacing certain words with instant messaging slang.

It’s All Geek To Me website:

(http://technology.sympatico.msn.ca/Its+all+geek+to+me+Defining+todays+tech+terms/How-To/ContentPosting_MS.aspx?isfa=1&newsitemid=ccf557c7-59f0-48f9-9e67-4cfebb5616c3&feedname=MARC-SALTZMAN&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=False)