From linguist Adam Aleksic known as @etymologynerd on social media comes a captivating
exploration of how internet algorithms are transforming language and communication in
unprecedented ways. “Packed with fascinating facts of-the-moment observations and a
sparkling voice Algospeak is a gift to any word nerd. Deftly covering everything from emoji
etymologies and trendbait to Taylor Swift fanilects... Adam Aleksic is the wise yet accessible
internet linguistics oracle we need.”—Amanda Montell author of The Age of Magical Overthinking
and Cultish From “brainrot” memes and incel slang to the trend of adding “-core” to
different influencer aesthetics the internet has ushered in an unprecedented linguistic
upheaval. We’re entering an entirely new era of etymology heralded by the invisible forces
driving social media algorithms. Thankfully Algospeak is here to explain. As a professional
linguist Adam Aleksic understands the gravity of language and the way we use it: he knows the
ways it has morphed and changed how it reflects society and how in its everyday usage we
carry centuries of human history on our tongues. As a social media influencer Aleksic is also
intimately familiar with the internet’s reach and how social media impacts the way we engage
with one another. New slang emerges and goes viral overnight. Accents are shaped or erased on
YouTube. Grammatical rules loopholes and patterns surface and transform language as we know
it. Our interactions social norms and habits—both online and in person—shift into something
completely different. As Aleksic uses original surveys data and internet archival research
to usher us through this new linguistic landscape he also illuminates how communication is
changing in both familiar and unexpected ways. From our use of emojis to sentence structure to
the ways younger generations talk about sex and death (see unalive in English and desvivirse in
Spanish) we are in a brand-new world one shaped by algorithms and technology. Algospeak is an
energetic astonishing journey into language the internet and what this intersection means
for all of us.
