What is Internet Slang?
Internet slang includes expressions relative to networking technologies and computers in general. Though slang typically refers to words specific to a group, club, sport, hobby, or even a generation, in the broadest sense Internet slang also includes emoticons, or simple graphics typed with keyboard strokes. The most common of these is the “smile” produced by a colon representing eyes and a right-parenthesis representing a smile, read sideways. Acronyms are also part of the Internet lexicon. Many Internet slang expressions combine networking terms with real-world terms to refer to particular types of Internet users. A few examples follow: • Internaut (Internet + astronaut): A veteran onliner with an academic knowledge of the Internet. • Cybernaut (cyberspace + astronaut): A person adept at online gaming communities that involve virtual worlds, simulations (sims) and cyberspace in general. • Digerati (digital + illuminati): Someone versed in digital technologies. • Netizen (Internet + c
Internet slang or netlingo is employed by IM users to shorten keystrokes. It often consists of abbreviations for commonly used chat messages, such as ttyl for talk to you later. Users also use emoticons to signal the emotional intent of mesages. See the Intenet Slang Translator and Dictionary for examples.
