"Twitter" Has Changed a Lot Since the 1700s

Nowadays, we use words like “twitter” all the time to talk about our everyday social meda-ing. In the 1800s, they said “twitter” too, but it meant something a little different. So did “pin.” The times, they have a-changed. More »

Twitter Adds LOLCAT to Supported Language List Because They Are So Clever and Funny

Twitter has announced that they have added some new user interface languages that nobody gives a damn about. Their biggest achievement: including LOLCAT as an option. Yes, people, they have localized their entire user interface using the stupid wording from the lolcat memes. You are so clever, Twitter. More »

French Government Abolishes the Hashtag

The French, probably in the midst of a Malian air war adrenaline rush, have gone on another offensive: the hashtag is out. From now on, it’s called a mot-dièse, which is sort of like a Twitter Royale with Cheese. More »

Babies Start Acquiring Language in the Womb

If you and your partner are expecting a new addition to the family, now might be a good time to clean up your language. New research suggests that babies begin to pick up language from within the womb. More »

Swype Living Language: Crowdsourced Dictionary

The recently released beta of the famous touchscreen text software Swype includes a new feature called Living Language. This optional setting automatically adds trending words to the user’s dictionary, giving your parents a chance to smh at your YOLO shenanigans.

swype living language

According to Swype, Living Language will draw new words from online sources such as the websites of CNN, Yahoo! and Rolling Stone, as well as from other Swype users. Will this lead to memes that only Swype hipsters understand? Will a Swype language eventually emerge? Or will users be flooded with gibberish proliferated by mean pranksters? I’m betting on all of them. Because that’s how I roll. I’m not good at math.

Of course, a list of new words is one thing; actually knowing what they mean is another. Android users who want to be a part of this virtual tower of Babel should head to Swype’s website to download the beta. And get back to me when you find out what “Looper swag Lochte” means.

[via Droid Life via Smarter Planet]

The Longest Word in English Takes 3.5 Hours to Pronounce

The longest word in English has 189,819 letters and would take you three and a half hours to pronounce correctly. Seriously. It’s the chemical name of Titin (or connectin), a giant protein “that functions as a molecular spring which is responsible for the passive elasticity of muscle.” You can listen to a guy pronounce the whole damn word. More »

GIF Is Officially the 2012 Word of the Year

I think I’m going to puke a Tumblr’s worth of emotions because GIF has been named the Oxford American Dictionary’s 2012 word of the year. ZOMG! More »

Microsoft Can Convert Your Voice Into Another Language

It’s unlikely that you speak Mandarin, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need to at some point. Now, Microsoft has created software that can analyze your speech, translate it and then spit out a new recording of your very own voice speaking in a different language. More »

Google Translate gets new features, makes sure you choose the right words

Google Translate gets new features, makes sure you choose the right words

Google has added functionality to the web version of its Translate service, now making it even easier for us to use and understand foreign tongues. Instead of a single result, you’ll be presented with a list of the most common translations, ordered and labeled by how frequently each one is used. What’s more, synonyms are also displayed next to the assortment of results, but this particular feature only works when translating into English, although more languages are expected to be supported soon. We’ve had a quick play around with it, and suggest you head over to the Google Translate page and try out the new elements for yourself. Now, if only the website translator could make those Japanese pages a little easier to read.

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Google Translate gets new features, makes sure you choose the right words originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 05:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Wacky Words That Are Now in the Oxford Dictionaries Online: LOLZ, Photobomb, Mwahahaha and More [Wtf]

Dictionaries exist in between a rock and a hard place: jump on new words too late and they look like a dinosaur, add in words too early and they’re made into a mockery. Words are hard, yes, but some words don’t exactly need defining like some of these just added to the Oxford Dictionaries Online. More »