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How Algorithms Are Reshaping Language
When algorithms make mistakes, we transform them into cultural currency thus revealing the unexpected poetry of digital errors.
From “doomscrolling” to “unalive”, “seggs” and “ducking” we’re in a period of rapid linguistic evolution across many cultures around the world. Overnight a typographical error can transform into a cultural touchstone. Behind many of these are algorithms, from autocorrect to to algorithms pushing content to our brains.
Some are mistakes that we then adopt and incorporate into broader social language or just within small social groups. This is part of how we’re talking with machines as well. Just another way in which we’re forming a sort of relationship with digital machines.
Does it matter? In some cases, not at all. It’s just funny, entertaining. In more subtle, but important ways however, they are a way for humans to circumvent algorithms restrictions and governance. And humans love to bypass and mess with systems and governance. We’ve been doing that for many thousands of years.
When we use changes in how words are spelled or their context, this demonstrates how control over expression is constantly being negotiated. Where it was human to human in social groups, we’ve added the second player…
