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tree_and_leafFor a while, I've been noticing the cat macro (lolcat) popping up on people's flists - though I have the impression that the spate is slackening. Be that as it may, here are a couple of interesting speculations about the linguistic significance of the mangled English, or rather the manner in which it's mangled:
This one also has some interesting background info about various internet picture macros which was new to me - I certainly didn't know that the O RLY? picture really did originate with the snowy owl).
Mark Liberman at Language Log reacts to the previous post here, suggesting that it's not so much a pidgin as baby language. Actually, of course, it's netspeak and thus more associated with teenagers than anything else, although there may be a parallel 'infantilize the cute animal!' process going on.
This one also has some interesting background info about various internet picture macros which was new to me - I certainly didn't know that the O RLY? picture really did originate with the snowy owl).
Mark Liberman at Language Log reacts to the previous post here, suggesting that it's not so much a pidgin as baby language. Actually, of course, it's netspeak and thus more associated with teenagers than anything else, although there may be a parallel 'infantilize the cute animal!' process going on.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 03:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 03:47 pm (UTC)*except "I'm in ur shipz, debauchin ur slothz", which is class, natch.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 03:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 03:59 pm (UTC)Wouldn't "Terror of the Lolcatz" be a fantastic name for a Doctor Who episode?
(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 04:09 pm (UTC)(I'm also surprised these guys haven't found all of the non-wikipedia wikis for things like this.)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 11:25 pm (UTC)wtf wombats
Date: 2007-04-25 04:10 pm (UTC)Re: wtf wombats
Date: 2007-04-25 05:46 pm (UTC)"Oh, they may look harmless and innocent, but I assure you, lolcatz are among the most dangerous beings in the universe. They insinuate themselves into insufficeintly advanced and wary civillisations, and lure the bored and vulnerable to them with their amusing tricks, before turning the brains of their victims into damp fluff and feasting on the remains of their helpless victims. Early symptoms include dribbling, so you'd better watch for that. Now, what shall we do next.... I wonder..."
"Do bullets stop them?" said the Brigadier, more in hope than expectation.
"No" said the Doctor, stiffly. He resented having his dramatic pauses interrupted. "Oh - for goodness sake, Jo, put that down, it's dangerous!"
Re: wtf wombats
Date: 2007-04-25 10:22 pm (UTC)"Do bullets stop them?" said the Brigadier, more in hope than expectation.
So apt. :)
Five Rounds Rapid!
Date: 2007-04-25 11:24 pm (UTC)I'm also, as always, appalled by my inability to type.
Aargh!
Date: 2007-04-26 08:26 am (UTC)Help! Help! They've got me!
Re: Aargh!
Date: 2007-04-26 02:21 pm (UTC)Re: Aargh!
Date: 2007-04-26 03:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 03:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 03:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 04:12 pm (UTC)Classic. Thanks for sharing!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 05:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 09:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-25 09:34 pm (UTC)