The abbreviation "FYI," meaning "For Your Information," predates the internet, as evidenced by its use in episode 2 of the first series of The Twilight Zone. Additionally, the acronym "LOL," commonly associated with online communication, also has historical roots, including its use in medical shorthand to denote "little old lady." The discussion highlights the longevity of three-letter acronyms (TLAs) and their origins in practices such as Morse code telegraphy and stock market ticker tapes, which utilized abbreviations long before the digital age.
PREREQUISITESAnyone interested in linguistics, communication history, or the evolution of internet culture, including educators, linguists, and communication professionals.
Many TLA's have been around for some time.paulb203 said:I thought, until just now, that the FYI abbreviation for 'For your information', was an internet creation, but I just heard it on episode 2 of the first series of The Twilight Zone.
Yeah. Turns out 'lol' might even be pre-internet.PeroK said:Many TLA's have been around for some time.
Correct. In medical shorthand a lol in nad signifies a "little old lady" in "no apparent distress".paulb203 said:Yeah. Turns out 'lol' might even be pre-internet.