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LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

"More than 22 million text messages are sent across the world every day � many in truly terrible English. It�s the end of the world as we know it, many decry. The decline and fall of written language means the end for us all, right? Not so fast. Linguist John McWhorter has a great new theory on what�s really going on in modern texting. Far from being a scourge, texting is a linguistic miracle."

http://blog.ted.com/2013/02/28/the-linguistic-miracle-of-texting-john-mcwhorter-at-ted2013/

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johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

I don't understand the part about "pragmatic particles".

johnslat · Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 4:39 pm Post subject:

Dear johntpartee,

Pragmatic particles? Oh, well, they're like, you know, words or phrase that are used, umm, to fill gaps in discourse. LOL Very Happy

Regards,
John
J

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 4:39 pm Post subject:

John McWhorter is on the Grammar Commie Riot Police list and will be bundled into the back of a Black Mariah presentlly...

'☭'

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Well, yeah, but "lol"? How does that qualify? I mean, y'know, well, to put it another way, shouldn't it at least make sense? The article states: "�lol� here acts as a marker of empathy and accomodation". Once again, I don't get it.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 5:18 pm Post subject:

Accommodation!

At least it wasn't used in a plural form. Nevertheless, the writer of this article is on the list too.