Podcast Summary
Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Episode 225: Speaking Fluent Internet: How Algorithms Are Changing the Way We Speak
Host: Matt Abrahams
Guest: Adam Alexik (The Etymology Nerd, linguist, educator, creator)
Date: August 26, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode delves into how algorithms and Internet culture are radically reshaping the way we create, use, and understand language—both online and in the workplace. Host Matt Abrahams interviews Adam Alexik, a linguist and popular educational creator known as "The Etymology Nerd," about the rise of "algospeak," the viral emergence of new words and labels, and the nuances of communicating across digital generations. The discussion highlights actionable strategies for adapting language to different audiences and technologies while exploring deeper cultural and social implications.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Evolution of Language in the Age of Algorithms
- Origin of Adam's Passion: Adam developed his love for linguistics from a 10th-grade experience and came to see language as much more than "fun facts," realizing its role as a core component of identity and culture.
"Language is the way humans identify the world and relate that to each other. It's how we communicate who we are as people."
(02:35, Adam) - Labels & Identity: The way digital platforms create and popularize new labels (e.g., “cottagecore,” “hyper pop”) changes not just vocabulary, but even how people see themselves.
“Now that cottagecore is out there, I’m either cottagecore, I’m not cottagecore—and that affects my identity subtly.”
(03:10, Adam)
2. Algospeak and Algorithmic Influence on Communication
- Definition of Algospeak: Originally speech used to avoid algorithmic censorship, “algospeak” includes inventive terms like “unalive” (avoiding words like “kill” which trigger TikTok suppression).
“Now we have kids in middle schools writing essays about Hamlet contemplating unaliving himself simply because they see it on TikTok.”
(04:58, Adam) - Beyond Censorship: Algorithmic reach shapes memes, trends, community language, and which words spread and take hold, sometimes even replacing traditional paths of language evolution within subcultures.
3. Intergenerational and Contextual Language Barriers
- Generational Gaps: With multiple generations in workplaces, some people speak fluent “Internet,” while others may feel excluded or confused.
- Sociolects: Each platform and context brings its own “dialect,” with certain implicit language rules (e.g., what’s fine on TikTok may be inappropriate in an office).
“Each social setting comes with a unique set of linguistic expectations... That’s the sociolect, the social kind of dialect of the Internet.”
(06:21, Adam) - Leadership & Inclusion: Rather than making a list of “accepted” words, leaders should foster awareness and adaptability, understanding that implicit norms are shaped both organically and by algorithmic influence.
4. The Medium Shapes the Message
- Medium as Audience: The algorithm itself is now an “audience” to accommodate, not just the person you’re speaking to.
“The medium is the message. Every single medium uniquely affects how we communicate, and we adapt our speech to these media.”
(07:10, Adam) - Audience Design: Speakers routinely adjust their language for imagined audiences—whether radio, TV, social, or now, algorithms.
“We’re also communicating not only for the actual person in front of us… but also for the algorithm itself.”
(08:32, Adam)
5. Limits and Workarounds of AI/Algorithms
- Bias and Lag: AI’s understanding of language is always behind human invention, and will never fully map the territory of genuine, evolving speech.
“AI… contains an idea or representation of language that is a map. But the map can never be the territory itself.”
(09:57, Adam) - Continual Innovation: Online users create new words faster than algorithms can censor or comprehend them, constantly staying a step ahead (e.g., “st!ll un@live”).
6. Practical Advice for Influencers & Communicators
- Optimize for Platform Incentives: Platforms value attention, retention, and engagement—creators must be conscious of these metrics and tailor speech accordingly.
“It’s all downstream of how the medium is baking in certain expectations, certain priorities.”
(11:11, Adam) - Visual Semiotics: Authority or attention can be conveyed not just by words, but symbols (fake microphones, backgrounds) that go viral or confer status, affecting perception in both social media and workplace presentations.
“Videos where people have microphones in front of them go more viral because they connote authority.”
(12:48, Adam)
7. Grammar, Ambiguity & Power Dynamics
- Evolving Grammar: Grammar rules are context-dependent. On messaging platforms, punctuation (e.g., periods) can signal passive-aggressiveness to younger users, despite being seen as proper elsewhere.
“The act of sending a text itself is already a signal that the sentence is completed. So… an extra period is actually saying something extra.”
(19:41, Adam) - Strategic Ambiguity: Hedging language (like “kind of,” “I think”) expresses politeness or lowers perceived power, and can help negotiate hierarchical or sensitive situations.
“Hedging does work, depending on different context… you need to show deference.”
(15:49, Adam) - Cross-Medium Awareness: To communicate effectively, one must be intentional about how language choices land on different platforms and with different audiences.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Words have tremendous power.” – Adam Alexik (04:13)
- “Algospeak… is memes, it’s trends, it’s which groups are created, it’s where words come from in the first place and how quickly those words spread.” – Adam Alexik (05:04)
- “If there’s one thing I can count on humans… it’s that we are ingenious and tenacious with coming up new ways to express ourselves.” – Adam Alexik (09:57)
- “Every channel through which you communicate, we have to be mindful and think through the language that we use to communicate for that channel.” – Matt Abrahams (18:58)
- “Unless we can become complacent… Now you’re out of date. You’re using periods in your text messages.” – Adam Alexik (26:07)
Important Segments & Timestamps
- Adam’s linguistic journey and the cultural power of labels: 02:35 – 04:13
- What is algospeak? Examples and effects: 04:41 – 05:47
- Generational language barriers & recommendations: 05:47 – 08:03
- Medium as message, accommodating the algorithm: 07:10 – 09:36
- Algorithms' limitations, human creativity: 09:36 – 10:46
- Advice for creators/influencers on virality: 11:11 – 13:24
- Visual semiotics and authority: 12:42 – 13:24
- Analyzing ‘like’ and hedging in speech: 13:58 – 17:20
- Adam’s actionable takeaways: 18:08 – 18:58
- Debate on grammar across platforms: 19:41 – 20:44
- Closing thoughts, Adam's "success recipe": 25:20 – 25:57
Actionable Takeaways
- Be mindful of medium and context.
Every platform (TikTok, office, text, email) has its own language rules and expectations.“Each medium is going to uniquely affect how we communicate, and you need to be exactly aware of what that medium is doing if you want to communicate effectively.”
(18:08, Adam) - Stay aware, adapt, and keep learning.
Language and algorithms change constantly — avoid complacency, and remain open to new words, rules, and trends."Continue observing. Become more aware. It's just a cycle."
(25:20, Adam) - Balance grammar to fit the setting.
Use formal grammar where appropriate and embrace informal rules elsewhere. Understand how even punctuation signals emotion or intent in digital channels.
Conclusion
This episode offers a fascinating and practical guide to navigating the complex digital language landscape shaped by algorithms. Adam Alexik highlights the need to understand the implicit rules and shifting cultural meanings attached to every communication medium—whether you’re texting, posting, presenting, or leading a team of mixed digital fluency. Ultimately, being aware, adaptive, and intentional is key to communicating with clarity and impact in the algorithm age.