(no subject)

[mamajoan]

I was musing about the nature of online communication and how it can be elegant in its simplicity. I got started down this path when I was AIM-chatting with Siubhan and she said something that I wanted her to elaborate on, so I just typed a question mark. The single character really says it all, you know? It's like in comic books where they just use a simple ? or ! to depict a character's mental state of confusion or surprise or whatever.

Then I started thinking about how simple words and phrases can be imbued with deeper meaning in a small circle of friends. I'm sure we all know how that is -- you have little in-jokes with your friends based on conversations that you may not even fully remember, or that are almost impossible to explain now. You can say one little phrase that seems meaningless or harmless to others, yet to your friend it has inner meaning that makes them laugh, or nod, or whatever.

For example, when xochiquetzl and I went to Las Vegas a few years back, we developed a whole Evil Twin language to help us talk about the people around us without insulting them. Different code-words or -phrases might mean, for example, "Check out the hot babe over there" or "Dude, can you believe the ugly clothing on that one?" We also have code-words for "you're crazy" or "I'm hungry" or what have you.

And then again last summer when I was at Worldcon with Lady Lauriel and Ariana, we developed this code word "falafel" which really connotes a whole complexity of concepts around food, guilt about wasting food, and the need to let go of buyer's remorse. That really exemplified the way language evolves and develops through usage. It's one of the things that interest me most about English (and all language of course).

One of my favorite examples of interesting etymology is the word "atonement." I don't know whether this is actually true, but I read in a "word of the day" calendar once that the word came from the smushing-together of the words "at onement." In other words, to atone is to reconcile with yourself; to become at one. I just think that's so cool. I'm a geek like that.

Comments

[tiggrrl.livejournal.com]

Chippe Preuvide Woeul!

[tiggrrl.livejournal.com]

...but more seriously, I have heard a story about some famous author who went on a long vacation just as his book was being released. He sent his agent a telegram which read, "?" and his agent sent one back reading, "!" so he knew his book was doing well. It's amazing how much can be conveyed with a ? or a ! or a :)

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

That's so cool! Of course nowadays it would be an email, not a telegram. :)

[xochiquetzl]

Quartermaine!

Unk!

[xochiquetzl]

Unk! Chlunk! Me see Bearblunk add me friend unk!