Monday, April 23, 2012

The New Urban English Language






Due to the proliferation of social media, increased globalization and other demographic changes, how we use language is changing the face of language.

How we use language today emphasizes linguistic and social differences between online and off-line communications. This trend also has had a major impact on global English as used in the non-English speaking world. These changes have produced a new urban hybrid language.

We as parents sometimes wonder what our own children are saying. But the English language is changing in general not only at the youth level but also at other levels including adults. The way we communicate with others is changing everyday.

The imposition of English as the primary language in the world has generated lots of changes everywhere. Despite that fact that the Spanish language is richer in the wide range of words with specific meanings, not only the Americans but the British have managed to do very well in creating a new whole dictionary with urban expressions or words of the moment.

If you want to be updated about this new language trend you can subscribe to the “Urban Dictionary” online and get e-mails containing the latest expressions and the way you can use these new word—some of which you may not even heard of.

Here are some of the new creations:

A woman who loves fashion is a “fashionista,” a men who loves fashion is a “fashionmista.

A marriage between a man and woman is a “marriage” but a marriage between members of the same gender is a “garriage.”

A something that is unfashionable and boring is  “uncool.”

Something that is somewhat frightening or strange is “freaky.”

Combining the words IPod and pedestrian, there is now a word for someone who is crossing a street with an Ipod in his ears called “Podestrian.”

Another combination of words is Facebookaholic to describe someone who is addicted to Facebook.

“Computerated” is the shortening of two word (computer and generated) to describe something that is produced with a computer device.

“Blogger” is someone who posts blogs on the web, like me.

For the cellular phone lovers and text messages, you can also use

“Lol” for laugh out loud.

“RDC” for really don’t care.

“XOXO,” for hugs and kisses.

As you can see, our language is changing just as quickly as our world does.

XOXO,
                                                                        
Copyright: Yilva Kalmanson

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