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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.
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.