LOL

rizla86 · April 8, 2011, 2:31pm

Why did LOL infiltrate the language?

The internet slang term “LOL” (laughing out loud) has been added to the Oxford English Dictionary, to the mild dismay of language purists. But where did the term originate? And is it really a threat to our lexicon?

“OMG! LOL’s in the OED. LMAO!”

If you find the above string of letters utterly unintelligible, you are clearly an internet “noob”. Let me start again.

Golly gosh! The popular initialism LOL (laughing out loud) has been inducted into the canon of the English language, the Oxford English Dictionary. Blimey! What is going on?
The OED defines LOL as an interjection “used chiefly in electronic communications… to draw attention to a joke or humorous statement, or to express amusement”.
It is both “LOL” where all the letters are pronounced separately, but also commonly “lol” where it is pronounced as a word.

The phrase was ushered in alongside OMG (Oh My God), with dictionary guardians pointing to their growing occurrence “in e-mails, texts, social networking… and even in spoken use”.
As well as school playgrounds, words like “lolz” and “lolling” can be heard in pubs and offices - though often sarcastically, or in parody.
](Why did LOL infiltrate the language? - BBC News)
Love it or loathe it, “lol” is now a legitimate word in our lexicon, says Graeme Diamond, the OED’s principal editor for new words.
“The word is common, widespread, and people understand it,” he explains.
The word serves a real purpose - it conveys tone in text, something that even the most cynical critics accept.

Licence to use LOL guilt free at last!

NomiCA · April 8, 2011, 2:34pm

Re: LOL

i am waiting for lulz to be licensed too ::D

zobia · April 8, 2011, 2:51pm

Re: LOL

lol. i am sure old school teachers wont gonna like this.

NomiCA · April 8, 2011, 2:54pm

Re: LOL

aren't gonna like it.......

or

won't like it.....

BarbieCue · April 8, 2011, 3:03pm

Re: LOL

Ditto zobia. I know plenty who won't like this at all! :D

ChiLLyMiLLy · April 8, 2011, 3:04pm

Re: LOL

LOL.

el_topo · April 8, 2011, 3:10pm

Re: LOL

Sohaib · April 8, 2011, 3:14pm

Re: LOL

OMG, BRB, PFA and GTG should also be added.

lol.

rizla86 · April 8, 2011, 3:35pm

Re: LOL

oh the irony

zobia · April 8, 2011, 3:39pm

Re: LOL

acha bhai koe bhi pick ker lo

lol. in my first year i wrote a casual email to my chem TA using IM. he was really pissed and instead of replying to my concern he lectured me on email etiquette.

i think i even had some girlie font in my email signature.

goddamniamsoawesome · April 8, 2011, 3:42pm

Re: LOL

THE IRONING. IT’S DELICIOUS.

princessjojo · April 8, 2011, 3:43pm

Re: LOL

yeah, they aren't going to like it....

NomiCA · April 8, 2011, 3:46pm

Re: LOL

..

i was waiting for that…

princessjojo · April 8, 2011, 3:50pm

Re: LOL

Hmmm..hello Mods...I think we should have an English corner at GS. It can be a good place to learn and also to help others improve their language.

NomiCA · April 8, 2011, 3:52pm

Re: LOL

^post that in Support forum......btw there is some language culture thing already :D

hareem01 · April 8, 2011, 3:53pm

Re: LOL

So can we just say LOL instead of laughing?

goddamniamsoawesome · April 8, 2011, 3:54pm

Re: LOL

I'm LIH'ing so much right now!

Sohaib · April 8, 2011, 3:59pm

Re: LOL

okay I read it as ‘HIL’ing’.. and I was like why would she Hil like that? my bad.

goddamniamsoawesome · April 8, 2011, 4:04pm

Re: LOL

Hahaha oh no babes

Sohaib · April 8, 2011, 4:05pm

Re: LOL

ugh. No babes here dude