New language for the screen

4 Jun 2008

I've become aware that a new language is developing. Well, not a whole language - more a set of punctuation.
I've seen some 'printer's marks' that indicate where a paragraph should start and such like. But there is a whole set of marks starting to be used - the amazing thing is that the marks seem to be agreed by so many people.
They're appearing within live chat, on forums and within database packages
Examples:
word* - indicating that the new word is a spelling correction.
// - indicating an aside or extra comment.
====> - indicating 'over there'.
Just wanted to comment about it - I'm a stickler for correct English but I love the fact that it's a developing, living language. I'm just astonished that the internet/IT population seem to be sharing common signals so quickly.

4 Jun 2008

Quote by foxylady2209
I've become aware that a new language is developing. Well, not a whole language - more a set of punctuation.
I've seen some 'printer's marks' that indicate where a paragraph should start and such like. But there is a whole set of marks starting to be used - the amazing thing is that the marks seem to be agreed by so many people.
They're appearing within live chat, on forums and within database packages
Examples:
word* - indicating that the new word is a spelling correction.
// - indicating an aside or extra comment.
====> - indicating 'over there'.
Just wanted to comment about it - I'm a stickler for correct English but I love the fact that it's a developing, living language. I'm just astonished that the internet/IT population seem to be sharing common signals so quickly.

I take it you don't use Usenet much?
There is a standard language used there that is more than 30 years old. It includes words, acronyms and abbreviations.
A lot of the shorthand used in chatrooms has evolved from Usenet to IRC and then to consumer-friendly facilities like the SH chatroom.

4 Jun 2008

Language change is a fascinating area - I love it!

4 Jun 2008

Quote by Peanut
I've become aware that a new language is developing. Well, not a whole language - more a set of punctuation.
I've seen some 'printer's marks' that indicate where a paragraph should start and such like. But there is a whole set of marks starting to be used - the amazing thing is that the marks seem to be agreed by so many people.
They're appearing within live chat, on forums and within database packages
Examples:
word* - indicating that the new word is a spelling correction.
// - indicating an aside or extra comment.
====> - indicating 'over there'.
Just wanted to comment about it - I'm a stickler for correct English but I love the fact that it's a developing, living language. I'm just astonished that the internet/IT population seem to be sharing common signals so quickly.

I take it you don't use Usenet much?
There is a standard language used there that is more than 30 years old. It includes words, acronyms and abbreviations.
A lot of the shorthand used in chatrooms has evolved from Usenet to IRC and then to consumer-friendly facilities like the SH chatroom.
Never heard of Usenet. What is it?

4 Jun 2008

Usenet was the first internet protocol. It's like 100s of 1000s of chatrooms where people from all over the world post messages, images, files etc. It's not exactly real time, but if you post a message from your local server it will promulgate throughout the whole world in a minute or two.
Wikipedia will give you a much better idea though...

4 Jun 2008

Nothing to do with SkyNet which took over the world in Terminator
I see some new ones pop up every so often. Well they probably aren't new but I've never seen them before so they are probably just less used.
Boggled = o.O
Agree with the above statement ^^
And the clasic 8===D Balls and penis.