WoWspeak: From L337 Language to the Game

Abstract: The aim of this study is to analyse the language used in chat channels of World of Warcraft to illustrate that players of World of Warcraft have adapted L337 language in order to suit their specific requirements in the game. By doing so the players have created a new variation of L337 Language: WoWspeak. We will find that players not only strive to create their own in-game jargon, but also they try to economise language as they attempt to mimic oral conversation as much as possible. The material analysed is computer-mediated conversations gathered from chat channels in the game.