YouTube and The Language of Gaming

“Yeet! I feel like such a noob writing this. I hope it will be dope and you will think it is lit.

Image by 11333328 from Pixabay

This is the slang language of teenage gamers. Do not be alarmed if you do not understand the meaning of the words used. Non-gaming adults are not supposed to, and it definitely would not be cool if you tried to use it. Sometimes slang is considered to be socially unacceptable (Pereira, Moura, & Eillol, 2018). However, in this podcast regarding slang, Tony Thorne, Director of Slang and New Language Archive at King’s College in London states that historically, teenagers have participated in the development of slang and claims that although controversial, slang has its place. Thorne (2014) claims slang can involve many sophisticated language features. Even Shakespeare was known for his use of antimeria, which is commonly used in the formation of slang. It is the practice of using a word in a different grammatical format, e.g. using a noun as if it were a verb (Jones, 2016). For example, before Shakespeare, the word drug was only used as a noun; however, in Macbeth, it was used as a verb.  

Image by Wikilmages
from Pixabay

Image by Gerd Altmann by Pixabay

As gaming became popular on the internet, YouTube provided a platform for gamers to share videos; edited or unedited, of their gaming experiences. This allowed millions of people to view this content and produced a network of YouTubers globally. YouTubers are known for their humour and the development and repetition of the use of slang (Pereira et al. 2018). Viewers can learn about gaming strategies, and video editing techniques from other YouTubers uploaded videos. They are also socialising in the language of gamers and can adopt these new words into their vocabulary. Gamers also use the internet to collaborate with other players to make videos, using their collective humour and slang, to entertain viewers.  

Image by Gerd Altmann by Pixabay

With the internet, a participatory culture has 
developed, meaning the consumers of media can also be producers. Jenkins (2006) confirms that internet participatory culture blurs the lines between media producers and consumers. In the past, it was corporations who produced media for the masses, and thereby they had control over the language being portrayed (Pereira et al. 2018). There has been an increase of slang being used in traditional media as this convergence of new and old culture collides. For example, the slang word bash is often used in news headlines to substitute for words, such as punch or assault. It is interesting to note that some youth of today are learning about worldwide events, not through traditional media, but through comedy and memes where slang in prominent. This type of internet media allows for the audience to interact on social media platforms in a way that was not previously available.

Image by Lolame from Pixabay

Language is not static and is ever-evolving. Take the word meme, for example, which was coined by Richard Dawkins, in the book The Selfish Gene, regarding genetics. The word meme is shortened from the word mimeme which has origins from Ancient Greek meaning to imitate. Memes have become popular cultural texts on the internet and even have a listing in the Oxford Dictionary as a noun for the above two situations;

1, an element of a culture system of behaviour passed 
from one individual to another by imitation or other 
non-genetic means. 

2, an image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous 
in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by Internet users, 
often with slight variations.

This word is now being used as a verb, e.g. I am going to meme you. This can be translated to I’m going to make a joke out of you. 

If you are interested in deciphering the introduction or you would like to know the meaning of the words your screenager may be using there is a comprehensive list of video game terminology on Wikipedia. There are many publications providing information regarding slang. However, this seems an appropriate platform to refer people to as popular slang can change quickly, and this website can be updated regularly. Slang has the potential to go out of fashion as rapidly as it was introduced or becoming a word worthy of notable dictionaries. Adults should not fear slang and accept it as part of how the youth communicate.

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References

Dawkins, R. (2006). The selfish gene (30th anniversary ed.). Retrieved from
        https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/qut/detail.action?docID=422874

Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence culture: where old and new media collide.
        Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/stable/j.ctt9qffwr

Jones, P. (November 11, 2016) 21 Rhetorical devices explained. Retrieved from
        http://mentalfloss.com/article/60234/21-rhetorical-devices-explained

Meme. (1970s). In OxfordDicionaries.com. Retrieved from 
        https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/meme?q=meme

Pereira, S., Moura, P., & Fillol, J. (2018). The Youtubers Phenomenon: What Makes 
        Youtube Stars so Popular for Young People? Fonseca, 0(17), 107–123. 
        https://doi.org/10.14201/fjc201817107123

Thorne, T. (Director of Slang and New Language Archive). (2014). Know your
        granny slang from your Jafaican? Or does it leave you in a hot mess? 
        [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from
        https://soundcloud.com/kings-college-london/know-your-granny-slang-from