1

RU 1337? Exploring Changes in Internet

and Virtual Discourse

Cynthia M. Calongne

Colorado Technical University

NMC Fall Symposium - December 2007

2

Eric McLuhan in Second Life

“The alphabet has had it.” E. McLuhan, 10/22/07

3

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

4

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it is obsolete.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.

5

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.

6

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

7

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

8

Translate this phrase in the chat log

RU 31337

9

Answer for RU 31337

Are you elite

Many spellings in l33t

l337, 1337 or L33t = Leet

31337, 3l337 or 3l33t = elite

10

Translate this word in the chat log

l33t5p34k

11

l33t5p34k

Answer = leetspeak

L33t cyphers use substituted letters and misspelled words to dodge Usenet filters and MMORPG communication controls

RU L33t?

12

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?

13

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.

14

1337 Lexicon

Comprised of commonly misspelled words, number substitutions, and abbreviationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet

lol

rofl

omg!

roxxor j00!

w00t!

afk

15

Translate this phrase in the chat log

m4d sk1llz

16

Answer

mad skills

17

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

18

Answer

frequently asked questions

19

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.

20

Type your answer in the chat log

O I C

21

Answer

Oh I see

22

Type your answer in the chat log

n33d 4 tr4N5l@+0R

23

Answer

need a translator

24

Translate this phrase

4 411 u n0n h4x0rs

25

Answer

for all you non hackers

26Chris Coutts in Tales for the L33t (Romeo and Juliet)

27

Tales for the L33t: Romeo and Juliet

Images courtesy of C. Coutts http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/romjul.php

Adaptation by Chris Coutts

28

A L33t Scene in Romeo and Juliet

Images courtesy of C. Coutts http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/romjul.php

29

Juliet to Romeo

Images courtesy of C. Coutts http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/romjul.php

30

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

31

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?

32

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

33

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/

34

For More Information

RU 1337? Exploring Changes in Internet and Virtual Discourse

Cynthia Calongne -- calongne@pcisys.net(719) 597-7270

Lyr Lobo in Second LifeRyl Redgrave on the Teen Grid at Ramapo