ESL WORKHSEET - Internet Language

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

WHY ALGOSPEAK?

LinguaHouse
Dec. 11, 2023

Level: Upper-intermediate (B2-C1)
Type of English: English for Teenagers
Tags: Society and Change; Languages; Information Technology (IT); B2 First (FCE); Using Computers and the Internet; Conjunctions; 13-15 Years Old; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old; Vocabulary and Grammar; Speaking
Publication date: 12/11/2023

The topic of this lesson is Internet language and algospeak, where people invent new words to get around social media algorithms. Students will learn vocabulary connected to a radio interview which will give them an overview of the topic. The grammar point is on subordinating conjunctions. There is also a game where students can invent new algospeak. The homework task is to find out more algospeak examples and find out the origin of some basic internet-related words (by J. S. Fox).

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audios (Am/Br English).

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

Presenter: Today we are speaking to linguist, Sam Smith, who’s going to talk to us about Internet language and algospeak specifically. So, tell us more Sam.
Sam Smith: It’s probably no surprise to anyone to know that the Internet and social media have introduced changes to the English language. It was inevitable. After all, language changes along with society. Perhaps language change feels faster these days because it can spread at the speed of social media.
Presenter: Can you give us some examples?
Sam Smith: Sure, take the simple word ‘’because’’. It’s a subordinating conjunction. Basically, this means it links two parts of a sentence together. One explains the other, i.e.: I did x because of y. I ate because I was hungry. That’s standard English usage at least. Now, a new slang use has appeared on the Internet where it has been shortened to ‘’because’’ plus a noun or adjective. So, ‘’I ate because hungry.’’ Or ‘’Water boils because science.’’ Essentially in this kind of usage, it turns a conjunction into a preposition.
Presenter: Okay, are we just too lazy to type out the whole thing?
Sam Smith: Well, that’s probably part of it. But another part is that communication on social media is largely informal. There’s a great book by linguist, Gretchen McCulloch, on the topic. She says that while some grumpy grammarians complain that technology is making young people lazy and inarticulate, it is quite the opposite. She says that it’s actually making us more creative in our writing. In fact, one area where you see a lot of creativity is in the emergence of algospeak for instance.
Presenter: Algospeak, is that speaking in algorithms or something?
Sam Smith: Well, sort of the opposite. It’s speaking to avoid algorithms. Basically, on social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Twitch, there are moderation filters which pick up certain words. Your video might get flagged or banned for violations. So, in order to avoid being picked up by these algorithms, new words have emerged to get around them. So, for example, instead of saying ‘’dead’’ people use ‘’unalive’’. Instead of LGBTQ they say ‘’leg and booty’’ community. When the pandemic broke out, people on TikTok and other apps began referring to it as the “Backstreet Boys reunion tour” or calling it the “panini” as platforms tried to reduce the spreading of misinformation. Social media has forced people to get creative with language.
Presenter: Does it leak into real life? Like saying lol for laughing out loud and yeet for instance?
Sam Smith: Absolutely. Some of these words might eventually make it into everyday vernacular. Only time will tell. But I’m afraid yeet isn’t used as much these days. And the meaning of lol is not as straightforward now. It’s often used to mitigate awkwardness or show empathy.
Presenter: It’s hard to keep up, isn’t it?
Sam Smith: Yes. Some Internet slang terms have a short life. When older people like ourselves start knowing about them and using them that’s often the beginning of the end for it. In fact, older people have their quirks when it comes to messaging and social media. For instance, their use of the ellipsis, which is the dot dot dot you see after statements, famously makes younger people uncomfortable. They read emotional meaning into an ellipsis because they wonder what it’s doing there, and what it might be insinuating.
Presenter: I like those dot dot dots. I’m going to keep using them to keep my kids on their toes. Thanks for telling us all about it, Sam!
Sam Smith: You’re welcome.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/english-for-teenagers/why-algospeak. Accessed on February 5, 2024. © 2008–2024 LinguaHouse.com. All rights reserved.