Speaking a different language

[hellziggy]

We all know that there is online language that's not used in real life, like leet-speak and such.

But I'm wondering if any of you have ways of talking online that don't translate to your spoken language in the real world?

For me, it is y'all. I pretty much never use y'all when talking to people. It's just not part of my spoken language. But it is actually fairly common for me to say y'all when I'm writing on LJ. I don't know the reason for this dichotomy, I just found it interesting.

Comments

[virtualpersonal.livejournal.com]

Interesting question!

I hardly ever curse out loud, but seem to be a lot freer with it online, lol

This isn't exactly what you were asking but a couple of times, I've used net lingo in RL, like telling the boss "brb"... argh!

[kajicarter.livejournal.com]

I have a friend I periodically catch saying "lol". And we do the occasional "roflmao", but that's because of this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=iEWgs6YQR9A

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

hee hee! That video made me ROFLMAO!

[genevra.livejournal.com]

When I read "brb" online, I read it as "be right back". I never read it as "b.r.b", so I would never say it that way in RL. (My brain also auto-translates RL to "real life".)

But for some reason, "lol" is "l.o.l." in my head.... go figure!

[virtualpersonal.livejournal.com]

Now that's a good trick, say the full thing in your mind so you don't make a mistake in rl, I mean real life :P

I just know I'm going to slip up and say *hugs* sometime to the wrong person....

[pied-piper70.livejournal.com]

I've found that certain people talk like they write...Most of those people I've found also happen to be women...At least, that's been my observation...I don't know why...

I have a tendency to switch: to write like I talk and then write like I think, which are sometimes two diametrically opposed processes...I find most men write like they think or write with a goal in mind...

And as for the usage of "y'all": I use it alot...I have an affection for the word (despite most white northerners' snobbish attitude towards it) and I feel it's a useful word, since there isn't a plural form of "you" in the English language...

[kajicarter.livejournal.com]

But "y'all" isn't plural. As my husband loves to point out to people (and I guess I'm taking over on this one, since he's not here), the plural for "y'all" is "all y'all".

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

but... but... "y'all" is a contraction of "you all" which IS plural!
I thought "y'all" was "you all" and "all y'all" was "all of you all" so different levels or emphasis of plurality, like "them" and "all of them"

[causette.livejournal.com]

y'all is the same for me. And 'dude' as well. I don't think I've ever actually said dude to someone but I use it quite a bit online.

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

Yes, dude! I forgot dude. I do the same thing. :)

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

me three!

[caitirin.livejournal.com]

Hm... I was going to say OMG, but I do say that in conversation. :{

I can't really think of any words I use online that I don't in reality o.O

[freyjakj.livejournal.com]

How about ZOMG?

[caitirin.livejournal.com]

I say that too! XD *geek*

[freyjakj.livejournal.com]

bwa ha ha ha!

Okay - that is another one! I spell out bwa ha ha ha, but I never actually say "bwa ha ha ha" - How about that one?!

[caitirin.livejournal.com]

Hmmm that one MIGHT work. I do cackle evilly but probably not exactly like that!

:)

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

oh, I do. It helps to have a deep bass rumble to it.

[kirkmona.livejournal.com]

the use of y'all online is simply your inner Firefly being set free. It is very shiny.