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Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.(2019/11/22 09:30)
Today on Everyday Grammar, we will explore two relatively new methods of communicating: text messages and internet forums.
We will talk about two common expressions you might see: lol* and I know, right?
These expressions carry much more meaning than you might expect, as we will see.
Definitions and grammar
We start with the term lol. Lol is short for “laughing out loud,” as in “I am laughing out loud.” The subject, I, and the BE verb, am, have been left out. Basically, lol expresses a person’s opinion about something.
You might think that is the end of the story, but it is not. The term lol has a much richer meaning than what we just told you. We will talk more about it later.
Our second term, I know, right?, seems like a simple statement. The words I know are the subject and verb. The word right? is a kind of tag question – a word that is connected to the expression.
But I know, right?, like lol, has a much more interesting story than you might expect.
Important use in communication
John McWhorter is an expert on languages. In the book Words on the Move, he notes that lol serves an important purpose in written communication: “easing.”
By easing, McWhorter means actions that people do to show they are feeling at ease or trying to be nice. For example, in real life, people often laugh or smile. They do this to show they are at ease and that the situation is not too serious.
Lol, McWhorter says, serves that same purpose in written communication.
English speakers use lol at the beginning, middle or end of a sentence. In many cases, they use lol to soften language or bad news.
Here is an example. A person borrowed a friend’s car to run a brief errand.
The borrower wrote the friend the following text message:
Lol your car started to overheat just as I pulled into the driveway.
In this case, the person writing the text “eases” the news of the car overheating by starting the sentence with lol.
The writer also could have written the statement with lol at the end of the sentence, as in:
Your car started to overheat just as I pulled into the driveway lol
A person might use lol in the middle of a statement as in:
Bad news lol your car started to overheat!
In any case, the basic idea is that lol helps make language gentler. It means far more than “laughing out loud.” In fact, it does not really relate to laughing at all.
“Anyone who used LOL to signal actual laughter would now be misunderstood: it would be, quite simply, a mistake,” McWhorter writes.
In writing, other acronyms have taken the place of lol to show actual laughter.
Agreement
Our second expression today, I know, right?, is like lol. It also serves the purpose of “easing.”
But, as McWhorter notes, the words I know, right? show agreement in an indirect way. Instead of writing “I agree” or “I know” many times on internet forums or texts, many people use I know, right?
It has a casual, pleasant sound. It is a nice way to agree with someone.
So, you might see something like the following exchange on an internet discussion board:
Wow! That cat looks like Simba from the Lion King!
I know, right? It’s incredible!
Imagine a change in the wording, as in:
Wow! That cat looks like Simba from the Lion King!
I know.
Such a statement is more abrupt, and far less conversational. The exchange between the two writers probably would not continue for much longer!
Closing thoughts
The point of our report today was to show you how English speakers use some terms or expressions that have more meaning than you might expect.
Understanding details like these will help you when you communicate or read in casual situations.
And some of the details we talked about – the placement of lol for example - are true of other kinds of words in English. Adverbs are one example.
The next time you read internet forums or send text messages, try to find other examples of words or expressions that native speakers use.
We will be back next week with another Everyday Grammar!
Lol that was a long report.
I know, right? But hopefully it was fun and helpful for the listeners.
I’m John Russell.
And I’m Alice Bryant.
John Russell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
* You might see lol spelled in lower or upper case letters, or a mix of the two i.e. lol, LOL, Lol
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Words in This Story
errand – n. a short trip that you take to do or get something
acronym – n. a word formed from the first letters of each one of the words in a term
casual – adj. unstructured or unofficial; everyday
incredible – adj. unbelievable; unimaginable
abrupt – adj. talking to other people in a very brief and unfriendly way
conversational – adj. relating to or suggesting informal talk; relating to or suggesting a discussion
adverb – a word that changes the meaning of a verb
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.(2019/11/22 08:05)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made history by becoming the country’s longest-serving political leader.
Abe broke the record this week by serving 2,887 days in office. The next longest-serving leader was Taro Katsura. He led Japan three different times between 1901 and 1913.
The 65-year-old Abe is also the second-longest-serving leader of the Group of Seven major economies. Only German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in office since 2005, has served longer.
Abe’s third term is expected to end in September 2021. He has said he does not plan to seek a fourth term. Abe’s first term lasted just one year from 2006 to 2007. He returned to office in 2012 and has since led his ruling coalition to six national election victories.
Abe spoke to reporters about reaching the new record. “Day by day, I have made efforts to achieve the policies that I have promised,” he said. “And because of these daily efforts I’m here to mark this day.”
Abe’s main goals in office have centered on attempts to strengthen Japan’s economy and defense. He has long called for a constitutional change to permit the creation of a full Japanese military force. That change has not happened.
Abe seeks to amend the constitution’s Article 9, which was added after Japan was defeated in World War II. The article states that the country surrenders its right to establish armed forces for war.
Any constitutional change must win the approval of two-thirds of both houses of parliament, plus a majority in a national referendum. Abe’s campaign has struggled to get support among a public more concerned with economic issues and the country’s social security system.
The long-serving prime minister has become identified with “Abenomics,” a set of policies aimed at speeding up economic growth. Abe’s plan for the government to buy securities and spend more while keeping interest rates low has created growth – but it has been slower than promised.
Speaking to reporters, Abe repeated his plans to spend his remaining time in office trying to improve the economy, serve Japan’s aging population and seek the constitutional change.
Abe has survived several scandals, including his own and other ones involving government ministers. The most recent involved his yearly cherry blossom viewing party. Abe has been accused of using taxpayer money to hold a gathering of political supporters the night before the party.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
referendum – n. an election in which people in an area vote on a specific issue
scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong (2019/11/22 07:57)
The power company that serves more than 5 million people in one of the world’s most technologically developed areas has to make a decision: turn off the electricity or risk starting wildfires.
Pacific Gas & Electric, PG&E, is $30 billion in debt and needs billions more to modernize its aging power system. Many Californians are unsure as to whether the company can safely provide electricity to a large part of the state.
The company’s troubles come from years of poor leadership and even worse government oversight. Combine those problems with both climate change and a housing shortage, and a crisis appears.
“There’s a ton of blame to go around here,” said Christopher Knittel. He directs the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management.
The problem and its possible answers are the top concern for California politicians. Most experts agree that the fires and the power outages will continue for years and all energy will cost more.
“It’s not just going to be a PG&E cost,” notes Matthew Cordaro, a longtime power company official with the Long Island Power Authority. “The consumer’s going to have to pay for it,” he said.
Starting wildfires
In California, a lot of people live near power lines in forests that are very dry. Two years ago, electrical sparks from power lines started several fires that destroyed large parts of Northern California and killed more than 20 people. A year later, PG&E power lines started the Camp Fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise, killing 85 people.
The power company is responsible for about 200,000 kilometers of power lines. Many of the lines go through forests that are dry after years of low rainfall. The forests are also filled with dead trees, more than 138 million in all, experts believe. They are possible fuel for wildfires.
Another issue is housing. A lack of housing in cities has pushed land development into the forests, where there are few barriers to building.
In addition, California’s climate is warming. Scientists cannot blame climate change alone for any of the fires, but they say it is partly responsible for higher temperatures and stronger winds. That causes the fires to spread faster and farther.
Five of the state’s 10 largest fires and seven of the 10 most destructive have happened over the past 10 years. The deadliest fires were started by power lines.
More than half of PG&E’s 181,000 square kilometers of service area is known to be at high risk for fires. That information comes from a plan the company gave to state officials this year. That plan explained how the company was going to try to avoid causing more fires.
But PG&E has had a lot of problems.
Repairing the aging power system
The company has failed to perform all the necessary repairs to its systems. It was found criminally responsible for a deadly explosion in its gas system in the community of San Bruno in 2010.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused PG&E of caring more about profits than safety. It failed to cut back trees growing near wires. The company has admitted it still has several thousand kilometers of dangerous, old-fashioned wire in high-risk areas. That wire can break and arc, setting off fires.
PG&E’s chief executive officer Bill Johnson has said it will take 10 years to get the system modernized and working. For now, Californians will have power outages – days or weeks without electricity -- to prevent fires.
Company officials say they have invested $27 billion in their power system over the past 10 years.
Power companies are some of the most regulated businesses in the United States. PG&E’s regulator failed to see fire risk and, as a result, failed to force the company to prepare for it.
Nearly 20 years ago, PG&E first declared bankruptcy after California’s energy crisis. Regulators and politicians had the chance to force the company to change the way it operated. Instead, they mostly ignored the problem, letting the company make its own plan to return to profitability by charging much higher prices.
Now it is in bankruptcy again.
I’m Susan Shand.
The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
arc – n. a very long electrical spark
regulate – v. to control or supervise something by using rules
bankruptcy – n. a condition of financial failure caused by not having the money that you need to pay your debts
consumer – n. a person who buys goods and services
Indonesian university student Tyas Sisianindita spends about eight hours a day on her phone. That time includes watching videos, chatting with friends and using social media.
“I realize that I am addicted,” she said, noting she checks her phone countless times from morning until night. She even checks it while in class.
“At night, when I can’t sleep, I can use my phone for up to five hours," she said.
Tyas goes to the University of Indonesia, where a team of students recently developed a device meant to fight phone addiction.
The students spent three months creating the device, which can help internet users like Tyas decrease time they spend looking at their phones.
Inventor Irfan Budi Satria led the development team.
The device is called “Nettox,” which combines the words “internet” and “detox.” Users wear it on their arm. The device has a sensor that measures hemoglobin oxygen levels and changes to the heart rate called HRV.
Studies have found that using a mobile phone for long hours can lower HRV levels. The Nettox device makes a sound when HRV and blood oxygen levels fall, which reminds wearers to stop using their phones.
For people between the ages of 18 and 25, the HRV should stay above 60. That information comes from the American Psychological Association.
At a recent trial, Tyas’s HRV reading was 44.
Internet addiction is a growing social issue in Indonesia. In October, two teenagers were treated for their addiction to internet gaming, media reported.
Irfan Budi Satria's team is working to improve Nettox’s accuracy. HRV readings can change depending on if the user is a man or woman, and what their body shape and health conditions are.
The team aims to get a patent for their invention with the university by next year.
Irfan says Nettox is for people already trying to change their behavior.
“Our goal is to help…people who want to free themselves from internet addiction," he said.
I’m Alice Bryant.
Reuters news agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
addicted - adj. unable to stop doing something that is harmful
detox - n. special treatment that helps a person to stop an addiction
hemoglobin - n. he part of blood that contains iron, carries oxygen through the body, and gives blood its red color
accuracy - n. the state of being without mistakes or errors
patent - n. an official document that gives a person or company the right to be the only one that makes or sells a product for a period of time (2019/11/22 07:56)
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