OMG: Turns out 'text-speak' is almost 100 years old
By Claire Connelly, Technology Reporter



OLD fogies like to blame "the young-uns" with their Twitter and skinny jeans for the bastardisation of the language.

But while they may scoff at terms like “LOL” and “ROFL”, it turns out this so-called "text-speak", like, totes began almost 100 years ago.

The acronym "OMG" (short for oh my god) has been found in a 1917 letter to Winston Churchill from a British Admiral, Mashable reports.

Lord John Arbuthnot Fisher wrote to Churchill enthusiastically of rumours of a new knighthood:

"I hear that a new order of Knighthood is on the tapis - O.M.G (Oh! My God!) - Shower it on the Admiralty!!".

Lord Fisher published the letter in his memoirs, Memories, in 1919.

He was also known for abandoning his posts on a whim and resigned as the head of the navy by writing a letter to Churchill that read: "I am unable to remain any longer our colleague... I am off to Scotland at once so as to avoid all questionings."

Way to perpetuate the stereotype that the inventors of "text-speak" are lazy and unreliable.

Some things never change.

The Lord John Arbuthnot Fisher letter to Churchill


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/techno ... 6445777153

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