LOLspeak has established itself as a remarkably distinct form of online English language. The dialect used in memes with LOLcats has developed from being a Netspeak offspring slang used "to make amusing text for funny cat pictures" to a language phenomenon with "regularities and patterns" that make it "a complex and systematic reimagining of the English language". It has transgressed its meme boundaries and manifested in commentary forums, the bible rewrite "LOLcat Bible Translation Project" – and has become the subject of a number of academic works.
From a verb semantic point of view, LOLspeak jumps directly into the eye with its simplification and regularisation of verbs. The dialect in fact seems to be putting strong emphasis on the verb and its function amidst a sentence by shifting not only several grammatical components, but in this way also the aspect & situation type the verb and its correlating items in a sentence operate in. In doing so, it seems to be stressing the importance of the verb in this context as well as making aware of what in fact and in detail composes the aspect and situation type of a sentence.
Is LOLspeak threfore a dialect of English that is worth appraising linguistically for its instructive & educational value – or is it a simple "language play" that rather bears the contrary effect and degenerates the English language with its shifting and breaking of linguistic rules?
Table of Contents
Introduction
Basic Linguistic Features & Previous Analysis
Situation Type Shift & Emphasis
i. through point-of-view shift
ii. through verb swap
iii. through noun/verb omission
iv. through tense shift
v. through verb function play
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the linguistic characteristics of "LOLspeak," specifically investigating how the dialect utilizes verb semantic shifts and syntactic alterations to emphasize aspect and situation types, ultimately assessing its potential value for linguistic education.
- Analysis of verb simplification and regularization patterns in LOLspeak.
- Examination of point-of-view shifts and their impact on sentence stativity.
- Investigation of tense shifts and noun/verb omissions as mechanisms for emphasizing aspectual characteristics.
- Evaluation of LOLspeak as an instructive tool for understanding verb semantics and situation types.
Excerpt from the Book
i. through point-of-view shift
The first shift applied by LOLspeak which will be analysed jumps directly at the eye with its inappropriateness and has been described as the "strong tendency for irregular person agreement between nouns and verbs" (Gawne & Vaughan 2011:115). It is the point-of-view shift that can be observed in a large number of LOLspeak phrases, including the following:
(1) L: I not feels so good / is mah tonsils swollen? (emphasized state) SE: I don't feel so good / are my tonsils swollen? (state with active sense)
The simplification of both the 1st person singular and 3rd person plural to the 3rd person singular seem to shift the whole stative phrase into a more static environment. The active sense of 'not feeling so good', the "internal phase[...] or change" (Saeed 1997:109) taking place, seems to be less emphasized. Rather, the verbs 'feels' and 'is' seem distanced from their subjects as well as the situation due to their grammatical non-agreement with them and as the dynamic sense seems to have been withdrawn from 'not feeling so good', more emphasis is put on the stableness of the situation (cf. 37) and the statement itself.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: Provides an overview of LOLspeak's development from internet slang to a complex language phenomenon and outlines the research objective regarding its linguistic value.
Basic Linguistic Features & Previous Analysis: Reviews existing academic perspectives on LOLspeak, highlighting recurring syntactic patterns like copula variation and over-extended past tense suffixes.
Situation Type Shift & Emphasis: Explores how various linguistic shifts in LOLspeak alter the aspectual properties of sentences.
i. through point-of-view shift: Analyzes how irregular person agreement impacts the stativity of a phrase by distancing the subject from the situation.
ii. through verb swap: Discusses how the substitution of verbs like 'to have' and 'to be' reinterprets ongoing processes into static attributes.
iii. through noun/verb omission: Examines how the removal of grammatical components emphasizes the non-dynamic nature of stative situations.
iv. through tense shift: Investigates how tense manipulation, such as double-marking or removal, highlights durative or telic aspects.
v. through verb function play: Explores further alterations in verb roles, such as infinitive usage, to emphasize punctual aspects of an action.
Conclusion: Summarizes that LOLspeak effectively highlights verb semantic dimensions and discusses its potential role as an educational tool for linguistic awareness.
Keywords
LOLspeak, Verb Semantics, Situation Type, Aspect, Internet Dialect, Language Play, Syntax, Linguistic Regularization, Stative Verbs, Point-of-view Shift, Tense Shift, Verb Function, Language Education, Metalinguistic Awareness, Online Language.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the verb semantics of the internet dialect "LOLspeak," focusing on how its unique grammatical features affect the aspect and situation type of sentences.
What are the central thematic areas of the study?
Key areas include the regularization of verbs, syntactic shifts (point-of-view, tense, verb function), and the omission of grammatical components in meme-based language.
What is the primary research question?
The paper seeks to determine whether LOLspeak is a linguistically significant dialect worth using for educational instruction or merely a form of "language play" that degrades English.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a qualitative analysis approach, comparing LOLspeak examples with standard English equivalents based on established semantic theories by authors like Saeed, Moens, Steedman, and Smith.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body breaks down the linguistic mechanisms—point-of-view shift, verb swap, omission, tense shifts, and verb function play—and analyzes their impact on situation type emphasis.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is best defined by terms such as LOLspeak, verb semantics, situation type, aspect, linguistic play, and metalinguistic awareness.
How does the point-of-view shift change the meaning of a sentence in LOLspeak?
By using irregular person agreement (such as 3rd person singular forms for 1st person subjects), the dialect distances the subject from the action, effectively turning dynamic processes into more static, observable states.
What role does the 'verb swap' play in the dialect?
The verb swap phenomenon, particularly between 'to have' and 'to be', reinterprets standard durative or stative situations to emphasize specific attributes, such as turning an ongoing process into a punctual event.
Does the author reach a definitive conclusion regarding the value of LOLspeak?
The author concludes that LOLspeak is an instructive tool for demonstrating verb semantic principles but notes that its status as an educational tool depends on the context of its application in academic settings.
- Quote paper
- Marc Backhaus (Author), 2014, LOLspeak Verb Semantics. Aspect and Situation Type Emphasis in a Weird English Dialect, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/288755
