Is Censorship Changing Your Language?
Is Censorship Changing Your Language?
This Week In Writing, we explore algorithm-driven ‘anglospeak’ and how words and their meanings change over time.
Spend any time on TikTok, and you’ll likely encounter an unfamiliar version of the English language. Dubbed anglospeak, online creators change their words to avoid content filtering. As The Washington Post explains, “in many online videos, it’s common to say ‘unalive’ rather than ‘dead,’ ‘SA’ instead of ‘sexual assault,’ or ‘spicy eggplant’ instead of ‘vibrator.’”
Language is constantly evolving, and word usage changes over time. Clive Thompson says using “code-talk” to avoid platform moderation began in China and goes back years. He even links to “an up-to-date encyclopedia devoted to tracking these code words run by the Berkeley-based China Digital Times.”
I’ll leave the debate over whether platforms should use algorithms to automatically filter certain words to Clive Thompson, who is far more qualified to offer suggestions. Instead, I’m curious how your usage of language has changed over time. Do you avoid specific topics or words in your writing, or do you change the meaning of words? Hit reply and let me know. If you actively use anglospeak online, I would love to talk to you more.
This Week's Featured Links
Self-Censorship and Fear in Fiction: Thoughts and Tips | by Gunnar De Winter | The Writing Cooperative — writingcooperative.com
For better or worse, words can inspire. Sticks and stones may break bones whereas words do not, but words can make people pick up the sticks and stones in the first place.
Are There Topics We Shouldn’t Write About? | by Lindy | The Writing Cooperative — writingcooperative.com
Take a stroll through my profile and you’ll find articles on everything from LGBTQ+ rights to reviews of my favorite TV shows. I’ve never focused my writing on any one particular subject.
My Publisher Said My Work Could Be Interpreted as “Fat-Shaming.” But I Disagree. | by Jaye Frances | The Writing Cooperative — writingcooperative.com
fiction, writing, writing tips, editing, publishing, satire, creative writing, creativity, writing satire, fat-shaming, hypersensitivity, social pressure, freedom to write
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