DICTIONARY: Pre-internet vs. Post-internet
Technological change, as we know, provokes linguistic and cultural change, too. It’s the reason why, several times a year, dictionaries comes with the addition of new and typically very trendy words.
Here, the list shows how technology has shaped language over time.
Here, the list shows how technology has shaped language over time.
Block
Pre-internet: “to be placed in front of something, such as a road or path, so that people or things cannot pass through.”
Post-internet: to prevent someone from contacting you on a social network like Twitter, or from viewing your profile.
Pre-internet: “to be placed in front of something, such as a road or path, so that people or things cannot pass through.”
Post-internet: to prevent someone from contacting you on a social network like Twitter, or from viewing your profile.
Canoe
Pre-internet: “a long narrow boat that is pointed at both ends and that is moved by a paddle with one blade.”
Post-internet: “a Twitter conversation that has picked up too many usernames for an actual conversation to take place.”
Pre-internet: “a long narrow boat that is pointed at both ends and that is moved by a paddle with one blade.”
Post-internet: “a Twitter conversation that has picked up too many usernames for an actual conversation to take place.”
Catfish
Pre-internet: “a freshwater or marine fish with whisker like barbels around the mouth, typically bottom-dwelling.”
Post-internet: “a person who sets up a false personal profile on a social networking site for fraudulent or deceptive purposes.”
Pre-internet: “a freshwater or marine fish with whisker like barbels around the mouth, typically bottom-dwelling.”
Post-internet: “a person who sets up a false personal profile on a social networking site for fraudulent or deceptive purposes.”
Cloud
Pre-internet: “a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet (as the earth) or moon.”
Post-internet: “any of several parts of the Internet that allow online processing and storage of documents and data as well as electronic access to software and other resources.”
Pre-internet: “a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet (as the earth) or moon.”
Post-internet: “any of several parts of the Internet that allow online processing and storage of documents and data as well as electronic access to software and other resources.”
Fan
Pre-internet: “an apparatus with rotating blades that creates a current of air for cooling or ventilation.”
Post-internet: “a person who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular person or thing.”
Pre-internet: “an apparatus with rotating blades that creates a current of air for cooling or ventilation.”
Post-internet: “a person who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular person or thing.”
Firehose
Pre-internet: “a large-diameter hose used in extinguishing fires.”
Post-internet: “a very large stream of data.”
Pre-internet: “a large-diameter hose used in extinguishing fires.”
Post-internet: “a very large stream of data.”
Footprint
Pre-internet: “a track or mark left by a foot or shoe.”
Post-internet: “a unique set of characteristics, actions, etc., that leave a trace and serve as a means of identification.”
Pre-internet: “a track or mark left by a foot or shoe.”
Post-internet: “a unique set of characteristics, actions, etc., that leave a trace and serve as a means of identification.”
Friend
Pre-internet: “one attached to another by affection or esteem.”
Post-internet: “to add a person to one’s list of contacts on a social-networking website.”
Pre-internet: “one attached to another by affection or esteem.”
Post-internet: “to add a person to one’s list of contacts on a social-networking website.”
Follow
Pre-internet:“to go or come after or behind someone or something; to pursue in an effort to overtake.”
Post-internet: to subscribe to someone’s updates on social media.
Pre-internet:“to go or come after or behind someone or something; to pursue in an effort to overtake.”
Post-internet: to subscribe to someone’s updates on social media.
Like
Pre-internet: “to be suitable or agreeable to.”
Post-internet: “to indicate one’s enjoyment of, agreement with, or interest in website content, especially in social media.”
Pre-internet: “to be suitable or agreeable to.”
Post-internet: “to indicate one’s enjoyment of, agreement with, or interest in website content, especially in social media.”
Meme
Pre-internet: “an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.”
Post-internet: “a cultural item in the form of an image, video, phrase, etc., that is spread via the Internet and often altered in a creative or humorous way.”
Pre-internet: “an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.”
Post-internet: “a cultural item in the form of an image, video, phrase, etc., that is spread via the Internet and often altered in a creative or humorous way.”
Ping
Pre-internet: “a sharp sound like that of a striking bullet.”
Post-internet: “to make contact with someone by sending a brief electronic message, as a text message.”
Pre-internet: “a sharp sound like that of a striking bullet.”
Post-internet: “to make contact with someone by sending a brief electronic message, as a text message.”
Profile
Pre-internet:“a representation of something in outline; a concise biographical sketch.”
Post-internet: “the personal details, images, user statistics, social-media timeline, etc., that an individual creates and associates with a username or online account.”
Pre-internet:“a representation of something in outline; a concise biographical sketch.”
Post-internet: “the personal details, images, user statistics, social-media timeline, etc., that an individual creates and associates with a username or online account.”
Sandbox
Pre-internet: “a low box filled with sand that children can play in.”
Post-internet: “an environment in which software developers or editors can create and test new content, separate from other content in the project.”
Pre-internet: “a low box filled with sand that children can play in.”
Post-internet: “an environment in which software developers or editors can create and test new content, separate from other content in the project.”
Swipe
Pre-internet: “a criticism or insult that is directed toward a particular person or group; a swinging movement of a person’s hand, an animal’s paw, etc.”
Post-internet: “to move the fingers across a touchscreen.”
Pre-internet: “a criticism or insult that is directed toward a particular person or group; a swinging movement of a person’s hand, an animal’s paw, etc.”
Post-internet: “to move the fingers across a touchscreen.”
Tablet
Pre-internet: “a flat piece of stone, clay, or wood that has writing on it.” or "medicine"
Post-internet: “a general-purpose computer contained in a touchscreen panel.”
Pre-internet: “a flat piece of stone, clay, or wood that has writing on it.” or "medicine"
Post-internet: “a general-purpose computer contained in a touchscreen panel.”
Tag
Pre-internet: “to supply with an identifying marker or price; to attach as an addition.”
Post-internet: to link to someone else’s profile in a social media post, commonly a photo or status update.
Pre-internet: “to supply with an identifying marker or price; to attach as an addition.”
Post-internet: to link to someone else’s profile in a social media post, commonly a photo or status update.
Text
Pre-internet: “a book or other piece of writing; especially : one that is studied.”
Post-internet: “to send a text message.”
Timeline
Pre-internet: “a table listing important events for successive years within a particular historical period.”
Post-internet:“a collection of online posts or updates associated with a specific social-media account, in reverse chronological order.”
Pre-internet: “a book or other piece of writing; especially : one that is studied.”
Post-internet: “to send a text message.”
Timeline
Pre-internet: “a table listing important events for successive years within a particular historical period.”
Post-internet:“a collection of online posts or updates associated with a specific social-media account, in reverse chronological order.”
Troll
Pre-internet: “a dwarf or giant in Scandinavian folklore inhabiting caves or hills.”
Post-internet: “a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people.”
Pre-internet: “a dwarf or giant in Scandinavian folklore inhabiting caves or hills.”
Post-internet: “a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people.”
Tweet
Pre-internet:“a chirping note.”
Post-internet: “a very short message posted on the Twitter website.”
Pre-internet:“a chirping note.”
Post-internet: “a very short message posted on the Twitter website.”
Unplug
Pre-internet: “to disconnect something, such as a lamp or television from an electrical source or another device by removing its plug.”
Post-internet: “to refrain from using digital or electronic devices for a period of time.”
Pre-internet: “to disconnect something, such as a lamp or television from an electrical source or another device by removing its plug.”
Post-internet: “to refrain from using digital or electronic devices for a period of time.”
Viral
Pre-internet:“of, relating to, or caused by a virus.”
Post-internet:“becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the Internet.”
Pre-internet:“of, relating to, or caused by a virus.”
Post-internet:“becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the Internet.”
