How ‘Sexting’ Gets You In Trouble When You’re Not Even Doing It, Plus Joel McHale

I was asked to do a lecture this week on the English language for the Foreign Language students at my university. Part of my lecture focused on the ways in which new words are added to English. Two ways are*:

1. New meanings for existing words
2. Making up new words

For #1, I used the example of the word ‘text,’ which used to mean only written works and/or speeches, but now also means SMS messages. And from this new usage of the noun, we also made the verb ‘to text’ and added the words texting, texted, etc.

For #2, I gave the example of the words ‘sexting’ and ‘sext,’ which from what I read online are pretty popular words these days in American culture. I didn’t say much about the meaning of the words themselves, only that they were made up, derived from ‘texting,’ and meant that the text had a sexual topic. I explained that we went from ‘text’ to ‘texting’ to ‘sexting’ back to ‘sext’ in new word formation; that’s awesome from a linguistic etymological process point of view, and a good illustration of how flexible English is.

So now I’ve given my lecture to the 350+ English students in the lecture hall, and I’m doing the Q&A. There are a couple of great questions about accents, usage, etc. and then *this* kid stands up:

Random Male Student: “May I ask you a personal question?”

Me: “Yes.” (Thinking it would be how old I am, how much money I make, something common for China.)

Random Male Student: “Have you ever sent a sext?”

Me: !!!! *Um, are you kidding me with this? For real, you just asked me this in an auditorium full of people?* *Rapidly formulating an answer that doesn’t focus on me so I don’t give in to his crossing of the ‘personal’ line.*

Me: “I think many people in a close relationship have done such a thing.”

Random Male Student: “Oh.” *pause* “Can I have your cell phone number?”

Well, what could I do at that point but laugh? I mean, everyone else was. So that’s what I did, I laughed. And said yes, anyone can have my cell phone number. And sure enough, he came and got it after the Q&A was over**.

Lesson learned: sometimes students are more interested in the subject matter than the etymological process.

*These are not the only two ways, just two ways I talked about relevant to this post.

** Trust me when I say I will never hear from him, he just wanted a foreigner's # a la the taxi driver.
_________________________

On a related note, anyone see Community this week? Funniest tv episode I've maybe ever seen in my life. And what I said in my head when Joel McHale stripped down to the sleeveless tank: "DAMN, SKIPPY!" Yes, I speak in all caps in my head. JM has perfect muscles. I want to lick his biceps. I’m just saying is all.

UPDATE:

Picture. You're welcome.

The Friend Text Crux Hypothesis

I have another friendship theory: the better the friend, the more words I use in texts that are not in my phone's dictionary. I hate adding words manually, but some people seem to bring out the non-dictionary words in me and it must be done. (This is the worst part of getting a new phone, adding back in all the words I need.) The boring people, or the ones I don't like as much? All the words are there. Hmmm.

I think this is kind of an awesome theory, I wonder if I could get a linguistics grant to study it further?

A Few Random Thoughts

I like text messaging a lot more than sending emails because texts have no subject line. Subject lines are awkward. Do we walk up to someone and announce what we are going to talk about? No. Email fail.

"If you think he's a good guy, you might be wrong, but if you think he's a bad guy, you're definitely right." A quotation by Diane Farr. I now totally believe this. Instincts ftw!

I'm craving corn dogs with mustard. One thing I've learned about myself from living in China: I have very low food standards.

Forget laughter, a good kiss is the best medicine.

If You Think Your Cell Phone Company Is Ripping You Off, They Probably Are

Cell phone service in China is a dream come true. So easy!  So cheap!  I have a hard time believing cell phone service in America/Canada needs to be as expensive and complicated as it is.

Here you simply buy a cell phone (in Mandarin: 'hand machine'), any brand, any model. Then, visit a mobile company kiosk to buy a SIM card. (I use China Mobile.) The SIM card costs about $7.00 and includes your phone number and about 2 months worth of service. You pop it into your phone, and you're done. If you want a new phone, you just put your SIM card into your new phone. No hassle, no contracts, no going to the cell phone store to have it changed for you. I dread going back to America and dealing with locked phones.

My monthly cell phone charge is about $3.00. This week I added internet access to my cell phone; it costs 70 cents a month. 70 cents! Suck it, Verizon.

P.S., I did the shopping activity again today with a different class. One of the groups raised their hand and said they were out of money, could they have more? Ha! So I guess yesterday's class was maybe being modest?

Skype

I got a U.S. based telephone number through Skype and now anyone can call or text* me here in China by calling/texting a U.S. phone number. Magic!  And I can make unlimited calls to the U.S. and Canada.  The only downside is that I have to be at my computer to talk and text, but still: calling and texting again!  For only $5.00 a month! (I'm not going to post my number here for obvious reasons, but it's a regular telephone/cell number, you'd never know it goes to a computer.) Skype even let's you choose the area code you want your number to be in. I feel a bit like Kip in Napolean Dynamite: "I love technology...not as much as you, you see...but I still love technology..." Yeah, I do.  

*Addendum: people can't text me, I can only text them. BOOO, improve this, skype!

www.skype.com

Dorky Things I Get Excited About

1. Cleaning Supplies

2. OPI nail polish colors

3. Stationery

4. Paper of all kinds

5. New socks

6. Diet Coke

7. Texts (picture and word)

8. Hot baths

9. Cardigans

10. Holding hands