I pulled up to Starbucks and snapped this shot. It is just one more example of how our language is changing and language arts teachers better start getting jiggy with it.
The Oxford English Dictionary has now included LOL (laugh out loud) and OMG (oh my God). Twitter and Google have established their own languages. New phrases such as tweet this, follow that, hashtag (blank) are becoming second nature. I heard someone say, “Google that on Google.” I believe it is freakishly correct.
Some people say that one way to be a ”leader in the space,” is to associate specific language with your company. This is happening for Pinterest, the virtual bulletin board, where you “pin” your favorite things.
But I belive the Internet is also forcing change in language by shortening our language. We all laughed at how kids were talking when texting (or txting), but it’s now incorporated in everyday vocabulary. LOL is now commonly used outside of TXT. “Drive Through” is now a “Drive Thru.” With only 140 characters on Twitter, people just don’t have the space to spell out numbers, choose long words or include silent letters (now they are not only silent, they are invisible). In fact, many of the vowels can be cut out and the meaning still is maintained.
This 140-character world has us all changing how we communicate. So txt 2 nite, and C how language is changing. As one kid txted when others were complaining about change with the English language, “Wot do u mean? Txtin is gr8 & quik & easy 2 rite!” He really spoke to me.
