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  • Texts, Lies and the De-Evolution of Language

    • 14 Feb 2011
    • 1 Response
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    • English adding and extra letter to the end of words anti-stupid grammar language pro-smart sexting social commentary texting txting writing
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    Jane: yo wz up
    Ted: nt mch wut up witchu?
    Jane: kickn it gettn it poppin whtchu kno boutt thttt ?!
    Ted: roflmao

    Let's stop here. Not for the obvious—but for logistics. How is it that one might roll on the floor and laugh their ass off while simultaneously typing “ROFLMAO”? Second, how ass-less can one be? It stands to reason that there would at least need to be a buffer between asses being laughed off to allow for a new one to flourish.

    Ted: cme ovr
    Jane: yeaaaaahhhhh babyy

    In addition to liquidating the English language to a series of sputters and blips, it now appears to be somewhat cool and hip-hop-y to add an extra letter or three onto the end of words. This screams, “I'll follow a trend no matter how stupidd!”

    Jane: i wuld bt im grnded
    Ted: lololololololol for wuttt?

    “wuld.” It's an interesting choice to keep the one totally silent letter. And, Ted, “laugh out loud out loud out loud out loud out loud out loud” makes zero sense.

    Jane: rprt cd 2day
    Ted: dam grrrll!!! tht sux.
    Jane: yea flnkd englsh 101 fml 

    Shocking.

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  • En Droid.

    • 23 Jan 2011
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    • @glyphboard Android Apple Glyphboard The Chicago Manual of Style dashes em dash en dash grammar iPad iPhone iPod Touch punctuation screw the AP Stylebook sms texting
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    Today my friend told me that when he used an em dash (—) in a text message on his iPhone, the message wouldn't go through—at all—on his friend's Android phone. This isn't surprising as the search giant still employs double-hyphens on its own interior pages. Then I noted that we were probably the only people on earth texting with em dashes.

    Even so, there are those times when I really want to text someone something to the exact effect of:

    I'm only available Tues–Thurs. I've already blocked myself out in iCal™

    Note that I'm using an en dash to indicate "through" here and the ever handy trademark symbol. Two things that aren't available on my iPhone or iPad.

    Or are they?

    I came upon this little treasure called Glyphboard:
    (note: the link only works with iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch.)

    Glyphs
    Now I can be punctually annoying from anywhere.

    And other people can put hearts on everything and be just plain annoying.

    So there you have it. Just think twice before you drop a skull-and-crossbones symbol to one of your Android buddies, lest their phone explode.

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    Purveyor of fine words.
    Creative Director at Artifact Studios.
    Creator of oneword.com.

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