Language Investigation #1

Language Investigation #1
The language of video games is one that is very different from that of the common language people use in everyday life. This particular community is one in which the language exists only within the community. There are many video games, each with its own genre and system, so it is essential to look at each video game through its own language lense. An MMORPG is a type of video game. This acronym means massive multiplayer online role playing game. These games are whole worlds created online, in which the player creates his or her own character with which to play in and interact with other players online.
Some of these games include World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XI, Age of Conan and Warhammer. One in particular that I am familiar with is that of World of Warcraft. It has an arsenal of new vocabulary that a newcomer must pick up on in order to be successful. This includes new words and new meanings for words the member already knows from everyday life. Words such as gank, camp, tank, instance, ninja looter and server are commonly used, must know words from the community. As well as new words, new acronyms must be learned, such as LFG, DC, LF2M, DPS, BRB, DK and many others. Shorter terms and acronyms are also created for places on the world map, such as KARA and BT. The lower levels are peppered with mention of such places as WC, SFK and SM.
Would any newcomer be able to successfully integrate into this in depth community? As well as language, these WOW players have a set of rules that are not enforced by the game, but by the members of the community. They must learn how to successfully level up, join a guild, instance, arena and so many other things. That’s not to mention speccing and professions. What about the auction house? There are so many things required in order to be a functioning part of WOW.
What do all of these different words and acronyms mean? To be honest, like in all languages and dialects, things can get a little complicated, so a list will be presented. Ready? To gank means to kill another player, one that is a lower level than you are, or one who does not suspect what is coming. This can be accomplished in a variety of highly satisfying ways. To camp is to hang out around said ganked player’s dead body and gank them again, every time they try to res. To res is to resurrect oneself from the dead by walking from the graveyard to the place in which you died. A tank is a player who is most often a warrior. This player, when playing with a group, keeps all of the aggro, or aggression, of the enemy on himself, so that the others can use DPS to finish off said enemy. It can also be used in verb form. An instance is a place in the game that can be accessed by one or a group of players. It is a place that challenges the players with a set of quests and goals, to be achieved through teamwork. While in the instance other players not in the group cannot mess with the enemies or tasks within the instance. LFG means looking for group, DC means disconnected, LF2M means looking for two more, DPS means damage per second, BRB means be right back, DK means death knight, and AFK means away from keyboard.