Language and the Internet

The language of chatgroups 165

idontknowwhy

youdarightperson

howyadoin

wanna know why

i got enuf

it wuz lotsa lafs

Grammar is chiefly characterized by highly colloquial construc-
tions and non-standard usage, often following patterns known in
other dialects or genres. The following examples show the omission
of a copular verb (a form ofbeas main verb), an auxiliary verb, non-
standard concord between subject and verb, and the substitution
of one case form for another:

i fine

me is 31

you feeling better now?

Nonce-formations are common – running words together into a
compound (whataunifreakinversitynerd), or linking several words
by hyphens (dead-slow-and-stop computer). Word play is ubiqui-
tous. New jargon emerges –bamf!, for example, which some use
to mark their final utterance when leaving a live group (the word
is from theX-Mencomic book, where one of the characters makes
this noise before teleporting).
Although the use of non-standard formations, jargon, and slang
varies from group to group, all synchronous chatgroups rely heav-
ily upon such processes, presumably as a mechanism of affirming
groupidentity.Itisnotablejusthowmanydistinctconventionshave
grown up in such a short time. Different systems have their indi-
vidual command-dialects. The use of screen colours varies greatly,
with some channels banning coloured text or an excessive use of
colour. Certain abbreviations or terms are associated with a par-
ticular system or channel. Feedback preferences vary – whether a
group saysor abbreviates it to, for example. A partic-
ular kind of misspelling may have privileged status in one group,
due to its having attracted everyone’s attention at some time. A
newcomer quickly realizes that everyone in the group spells, say,