I coined the word chatspeak in a published article (Glendale News Press, CA) in October of 1998.
Originally chatspeak was the abbreviated language used in online chatrooms, and it has now evolved into the abbreviated language used in texting and tweeting.
Here is the beginning of the op-ed piece I wrote in 1998:
CHATSPEAK ARRIVES
I was writing a memo at work the other day, and I wanted to make sure the recipient knew I was kidding. So I followed the sentence with lol.
And I froze.
omg, I thought.
That was the precise moment I realized how chatspeak was creeping into my every-day vocabulary.
And I wondered how long it would take this cybershorthand to sneak into everyone’s language.
Like like.
By my calculation, it took about 15 years for like to make it from Valspeak to the general population.
Er, …perhaps this would be a good place to stop and explain to the uninitiated.
Lol is short for laughing out loud; and omg is short for omigod, which is short for, like, Oh My God!
These terms have evolved during the past few years among those who visit chat rooms online. A form of shorthand is necessary because there's limited space and time to write your comments.
Originally chatspeak was the abbreviated language used in online chatrooms, and it has now evolved into the abbreviated language used in texting and tweeting.
Here is the beginning of the op-ed piece I wrote in 1998:
CHATSPEAK ARRIVES
I was writing a memo at work the other day, and I wanted to make sure the recipient knew I was kidding. So I followed the sentence with lol.
And I froze.
omg, I thought.
That was the precise moment I realized how chatspeak was creeping into my every-day vocabulary.
And I wondered how long it would take this cybershorthand to sneak into everyone’s language.
Like like.
By my calculation, it took about 15 years for like to make it from Valspeak to the general population.
Er, …perhaps this would be a good place to stop and explain to the uninitiated.
Lol is short for laughing out loud; and omg is short for omigod, which is short for, like, Oh My God!
These terms have evolved during the past few years among those who visit chat rooms online. A form of shorthand is necessary because there's limited space and time to write your comments.
by fuzzibear June 8, 2010
Chatzpeak (or netspeak) is a popular internet dialect that originated in the 90s & 00s. It's characterized by shortening + abbreviation of words, use of z instead of s, and sometimes da instead of the. (Note: chatspeak sounds cool as all fuck and I wish I were better at it. Fuck all you saying it sounds bad)
Popular words:
Girls: Girlz
Boys: Boyz
You: U
Be: B
Are: R
Talk to you later: TTYL
Friends: Frenz
Popular words:
Girls: Girlz
Boys: Boyz
You: U
Be: B
Are: R
Talk to you later: TTYL
Friends: Frenz
Mary smith: "I always talk 2 my frenz using chatspeak!"
Her phone:
@xxbloodntearsxxx: GTG, TTYL? <3
@enobydarknessdemtiaxx: Ya, 2nite?
@xxbloodntearsxxx: IAD, LY
@enobydarknessdemtiaxx: LYT <3
Her phone:
@xxbloodntearsxxx: GTG, TTYL? <3
@enobydarknessdemtiaxx: Ya, 2nite?
@xxbloodntearsxxx: IAD, LY
@enobydarknessdemtiaxx: LYT <3
by Shed Bifus October 8, 2021
A popular internet vernacular used in forums, chat rooms, instant messages, text messages, and online games.
The features of the vernacular include deliberate shortenings of words and acronyms in order to communicate with as few characters as possible.
Punctuation, capitalization, and less intuitive spelling is usually left out for the purposes of increasing the efficiency of communication.
Chatspeak also includes some slang terms from popular internet fads which are usually intended to be humorous.
The features of the vernacular include deliberate shortenings of words and acronyms in order to communicate with as few characters as possible.
Punctuation, capitalization, and less intuitive spelling is usually left out for the purposes of increasing the efficiency of communication.
Chatspeak also includes some slang terms from popular internet fads which are usually intended to be humorous.
Example of a conversation in the most popular form of chatspeak:
-hey wat did u say u wanna do
-i was gonna go out lol... btw jeff called me
-orly???
-ya rly
-hey wat did u say u wanna do
-i was gonna go out lol... btw jeff called me
-orly???
-ya rly
by Teh Researchazorz July 11, 2008
Abbreviations and bastardizations of certain words, used mainly on Instant Messengers. It was developed to allow those people who can't type 1000 words per minute to wrote and send out their thoughts with reasonable speed.
Standards include: lol, brb, gf/bf, ily, lmao, rofl, cuz, wat, h8, ne1, etc.
Standards include: lol, brb, gf/bf, ily, lmao, rofl, cuz, wat, h8, ne1, etc.
Scenario without chatspeak:
Person 1: I hate you.
Pause while person types out follow-up.
Person 2: What?!?! I gave you my life! *picks up gun and shoots self*
Person 1: You didn't tell me you got a girlfriend!
Scenario with chatspeak:
Person 1: I h8 u
Pause too short to allow Person 2 to make any premature assumptions.
Person 1: u ddnt tel me you got a gf!
Person 2: oh, i was worried there for a min.
Person 1: I hate you.
Pause while person types out follow-up.
Person 2: What?!?! I gave you my life! *picks up gun and shoots self*
Person 1: You didn't tell me you got a girlfriend!
Scenario with chatspeak:
Person 1: I h8 u
Pause too short to allow Person 2 to make any premature assumptions.
Person 1: u ddnt tel me you got a gf!
Person 2: oh, i was worried there for a min.
by bearimagines April 2, 2009
It's when you chat online for so long that you begin to use phrases like rofl and wtf in the real world. see also: chat syndrome
by Tiller July 14, 2005