With words such as “unfriend,” “selfie” and “lol” finding their way from our computer

screens to our everyday vocabulary, there’s no denying social media has a significant
impact on the way we communicate. It exposes language to a constant state of alterna-
tion, regeneration, and according to some, deterioration. Language naturally changes
with the times, and with the growth of online communication comes an introduction
of shortened, time-saving phrases. But is social media really killing our language, or is
it simply changing the way we express ourselves?
Since so much written language nowadays is encountered through the use of computer
screens, tablets, and mobile phones, it is only natural for language to evolve through
technology. Words like “lol,” which were once only meant to signify “laughing out
loud,” now appear in spoken language as a marker of empathy or compromise. The
once commonly used “um-,” “like” and “you know” are now being replaced by “lol” to
express comprehension or simply add a pause in conversation. For linguists, this is an
ideal example of pragmatic particle, a word or phrase that is used to fill gaps in dis-
course.

Similarly, the addition of a period at the end of a sentence is no longer simply an affir-
mation of proper grammar, but is also a way to demonstrate anger or aggression. In
both written and spoken language, individuals will insert pauses between words to in-
dicate the magnitude of a statement. Ellipses are also no longer used to indicate the
omission of a word or sentence, but to help keep a conversation open and light, per-
suading the other person to offer a response.
 Related: 3 Online Marketing Trends to Watch In 2018

While some despair at how the use of informal communication is the beginning of a
world filled with emoticons and misspellings, others believe the impact of technology
on the evolution of language is overstated. Linguist Professor David Crystal said, “The
Internet has only been around for some 20 years, which is no time at all. It takes a lot
longer for permanent or significant language change to operate.” But for those who are
troubled by the downfall of grammar every time they hear someone screaming out
“YOLO,” chances are new fads are just around the corner. Alternatively, keeping up
with these trends may be a great way to experiment with vocabulary and spot emerg-
ing new words; who knows, you just might find one worth keeping.

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