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RU 1337? Exploring Changes in Internet
and Virtual Discourse
Cynthia M. Calongne
Colorado Technical University
NMC Fall Symposium - December 2007
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Eric McLuhan in Second Life
“The alphabet has had it.” E. McLuhan, 10/22/07
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Evolution of Communications
In response to the question “Is written language obsolete?” Eric McLuhan replied:
“The alphabet has had it. We need to invent a new form. Probably a syllabary.” 10/22/07
A syllabary is a writing system that represents each syllable of a dialect or language with a unique symbol. http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/literacy/ReferenceMaterials/
GlossaryOfLiteracyTerms/WhatIsASyllabary.htm
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Implications of Obsolescence Obsolescence does not mean death, but a new
life. One analogy is the kids growing up, leaving home and their parents becoming obsolete.
Implications of Internet communicationsIf the body no longer regulates your activities,
it is obsolete. Now that we can be in many places at one time over the Internet while our body remains in one place, we are obsolete.
Obsolescence is Second Life.
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L33t and Emoticons
Emoticons :) and Internet slang (l33t) some consider a corruption of written communications, yet they serve a purpose.
Text, symbols and graphics that depict emotions, feelings and moods.
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Uses for L33t and Emoticons
Tools
Cell phone
Instant messages (MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Twitter)
Email, blogs and social spaces (MySpace)
Games (WoW) and virtual worlds (SL)
Content (in order)
Voice, text, podcasts
Text, voice, video, files
Text, graphics, audio, video, files
3D graphics, text, audio, video, voice
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L337 Trivia Game
For each question, the first to type it in the chat log and match the answer key scores.
Both upper and lower case is accepted.
No punctuation is needed.
Automated trivia game system designed by Sendao Goodman
Game content by Lyr Lobo
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Translate this phrase in the chat log
RU 31337
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Answer for RU 31337
Are you elite
Many spellings in l33t
l337, 1337 or L33t = Leet
31337, 3l337 or 3l33t = elite
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Translate this word in the chat log
l33t5p34k
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l33t5p34k
Answer = leetspeak
L33t cyphers use substituted letters and misspelled words to dodge Usenet filters and MMORPG communication controls
RU L33t?
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L33t in Games Trivia
Question -- type the answer in the chat log
What is the name of the popular Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game (MMORPG) where players used l33t to get around the communication controls and speak to the enemy during the first year of game play?
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MMORPG Answer
World of Warcraft
In the World of Warcraft (WoW), communication between the Horde and the Alliance was not permitted, but possible using l33t, as numbers were readable during the first year of play.
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1337 Lexicon
Comprised of commonly misspelled words, number substitutions, and abbreviationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet
lol
rofl
omg!
roxxor j00!
w00t!
afk
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Translate this phrase in the chat log
m4d sk1llz
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Answer
mad skills
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L33t Phrases Trivia Question
L33t has many spellings and variations. The following two lines have the same definition.
Type this three-word phrase in the chat log.
phr3Ku3N7ly 4s|{3d K0o£St330nZ
fr39u3n71y 45k3d 9u35710n5
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Answer
frequently asked questions
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L33t Becomes Popular
Today’s use of L33t is not confined to direct translations of numbers to letters.
Many popular abbreviations are part additions to the l33t lexicon.
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Type your answer in the chat log
O I C
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Answer
Oh I see
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Type your answer in the chat log
n33d 4 tr4N5l@+0R
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Answer
need a translator
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Translate this phrase
4 411 u n0n h4x0rs
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Answer
for all you non hackers
26Chris Coutts in Tales for the L33t (Romeo and Juliet)
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Tales for the L33t: Romeo and Juliet
Images courtesy of C. Coutts http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/romjul.php
Adaptation by Chris Coutts
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A L33t Scene in Romeo and Juliet
Images courtesy of C. Coutts http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/romjul.php
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Juliet to Romeo
Images courtesy of C. Coutts http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/romjul.php
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L33t Goes to School
Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckPlayed by 100 Ramapo 8th Graders in
Suffern, NY on the Second Life Teen GridCourt Reporter censures the judge for using
plz instead of please
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Observations on L33t in Internet Communications
Why would we use l33t and emoticons? Aside from informal conversations, does it have
a place in course management systems and business?
When is it most useful?
The Future: What is the next trend for Internet Communications?
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References Lexical tensions in “internet english”: 1337 as
language? http://www.verbumvanum.org/kristof/index.html
31337: leetspeak translator http://ogobin.de/tmp/31337.php
E-commerce lexicon: communicating in brief http://www.ling.mq.edu.au/centres/sc/jacobs.htm
Tales for the L33T (Romeo and Juliet) by Chris Coutts http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/romjul.php
Eric McLuhan in Second Life http://www.slcn.tv/media-ecology-eric-mcluhan
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More References Wikipedia references
Orthography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet Emoticons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoticon Cyberculture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_culture
The l33t Surfer http://0pointer.de/lennart/l33t/
Leet Googlehttp://www.google.com/intl/xx-hacker/
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For More Information
RU 1337? Exploring Changes in Internet and Virtual Discourse
Cynthia Calongne -- [email protected](719) 597-7270
Lyr Lobo in Second LifeRyl Redgrave on the Teen Grid at Ramapo