Digital etymology is a fascinating insight into the creativity of online users, giving birth to new verbs like ‘yeet’ and alternative compliments such as ‘snacc’. Online slang is the wild west of the internet and could be extremely confusing to anyone new to this digital space.
In this article, we will navigate the etymology and origin of digital jargon, taking you through the evolution of online slang from its shadowy origins in community forums to more mainstream circles such as social media. From the humorous to the cringeworthy, this light-hearted guide will provide an insight into online culture and how it has infiltrated everyday language, highlighting how powerful the internet can be.
The History and Evolution of Online Slang
Online slang has a long history and didn’t just surface overnight, as the internet developed, so did internet jargon and alternative communication methods. In the early days of the World Wide Web, many people used text-based forums and chat rooms to discuss specific topics with other like-minded people. Hence, early online slang is believed to be highly influenced by past forms of media.
As chat rooms had a limited character count when sending messages, many users used acronyms like BRB (be right back) or ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing). Meanwhile, forums were said to be the birthplace of memes, where people would often use a humorous image or video instead of typing a witty response.
Today, however, online slang can typically be broken down into five main categories.
- General acronyms – Acronyms can be considered the original internet slang, evolving from the need to use as few characters as possible while still conveying a message. Commonly used acronyms include NSFW (not safe for work), TL: DR (too long, didn’t read), and OMG (oh my God).
- Acronyms to express actions – A sub-category of acronyms are acronyms that are used to express an action, for example, LOL (laugh out loud) or in customer service, FTFY (fixed that for you).
- Tech-inspired words – As new technology emerges and develops, as does online language, many tech-related words that originated from the internet are now included in the dictionary. These words include terms such as meme, tweet, and selfie.
- Shortened phrases – Character constraints and a need for speed have also led to a range of short phrases being used across social media. An example of this could include “I can’t even”, a shortened version of “I can’t even find the words for a response”.
- Combining existing words to make new words – The internet has also helped to develop a range of words that can be used in everyday language, including terms like cyberbullying and clickbait. These words are concise but descriptive, with readers instantly able to comprehend their meaning.
Emoticons and Emojis
Although in this article, we are mainly referring to internet slang in text form, emoticons, and emojis also deserve a mention. These icons are used to display reactions, emotions, or sentiments as an effective time-saving technique. Emoticons were created by typing 🙂 or 🙂 in 1982, but these were replaced by emojis 🙂, which are colorful and come in many shapes and forms.
Emojis compliment online slang by adding visuals to strengthen the meaning of a term, while also providing a quick alternative to provide an instant reaction that requires no further context. For instance:
- 🔥= good, great, awesome
- 🤙= call me
- 🧢= lying, fabricating (originated from the Bay Area slang term to cap = to lie)
How Online Slang Overcomes Language Barriers
Online slang can overcome language and linguistic barriers and be used universally to create a connection between people of different nationalities. Internet slang can be recognized the world over, from southeast Asia to central Africa, with many online terms and memes becoming brands in their own right, finding their way onto T-shirts and other merchandise. Classic examples of this are BFF (best friends forever) and YOLO (you only live once).
When using translation apps or using a professional translator to convert a block of text, using online slang may not be a good idea, with some terminology not managing to cross some language barriers, with cultural nuances getting in the way. Some translators may even censor this data through redaction, but this raises question marks in terms of cultural discrimination and increased homogeneity.
Understanding Digital Jargon
For anyone not familiar with internet slang, it can be a confusing and almost intimidating world, with a flood of acronyms and ambiguous-seeming short phrases. For anyone looking to gain a better understanding of this digital landscape, some simple best practices can be followed.
First of all, the best way to learn more about online slang is to maintain a level of curiosity and conduct ongoing research to stay abreast of new terms and trends. Exploring online communities that hold some interest to you is great way to discover new terminology and find out more about a particular digital culture.
Secondly, if you don’t know what something means then don’t be afraid to ask. Online communities can be intimidating at times, but there will always be a friendly user who is willing to help a ‘newbie’.
Always be careful to limit the use of online slang to conversations with friends, online communities, or casual, friendly exchanges on social media. Avoid using acronyms and short phrases in professional or formal environments. As an example, you are very unlikely to find online slang used in technical manuals for processes like Workday staff augmentation which must be accessible and understandable to all. There’s a time and place for everything.
Social Media and Online Slang
Social media platforms are used by almost everybody, from young teenagers to pensioners, with varying social backgrounds, interests, careers, and incomes. As platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) became more mainstream, the way people communicated online also changed.
The hashtag, for example, was widely associated with Twitter but also spread to other social media channels. Hashtags help to create trends by categorizing tweets or posts so they can be easily searched. It often contains one or several conjoined words to create a witty or informative phrase that describes the content of the post, such as #OnlineSlang. They are generally used when discussing a major event, a recent trend, sports, or a political election.
Online slang is often commonplace in marketing and advertising campaigns. Even in more professional settings such as advertising small business savings accounts to Zoomers, to create common ground between banks and younger generations.
Meanwhile, memes which are often associated with websites like Reddit, typically feature an image and an online slang overlay. Effective for creating in-jokes and usually designed to amplify humor, memes are cultural phenomenon that even small children can immediately recognize.
However, online slang and memes are not without controversy, with some people claiming that the terminology used can promote stereotyping and possible harmful behaviors. Likewise, there are certain groups
Conclusion
Online slang has developed over the years to provide internet users with a way to convey messages quickly and simply. This is usually done humorously, often as in-jokes in an online community or casual conversations on social media or messaging apps.
Context is important when using online slang and certain terminology should not be used in professional or formal environments. Certain trends may also have negative connotations which may be offensive to some people or even promote unhealthy behaviors. To keep on top of changing trends and the meanings of new terminology, you should participate in online communities and take the time to conduct some further reading.
Author Bio:
Nahla Davies is a passionate content creator and journalist. You can catch up on more of her work by checking out NahlaWrites.com