BBM makes it into the dictionary

2012-09-13 14:45

Popular social network platform BlackBerry Messenger has made it into the dictionary. (RIM)

Duncan Alfreds

Cape Town - Popular social network platform BlackBerry Messenger has made it into the dictionary.

BBM, as the chat application is known, has been included in the latest edition of the Collins English Dictionary.

The publication considered several words that reflect changing language patterns, including "Wi-Five" for a high five performed at a distance; "Moobs" for undeveloped chest muscles on a man who has not exercised.

BBM has become popular with users of BlackBerry mobile phones because of the accessibility and according to Research In Motion (RIM), up to 98% of South Africans with BlackBerrys use BBM.

Usain Bolt referenced the platform after winning the Olympic gold medal in the 100m race.

"All I gotta do is thank a few people on my BBM with my congrats and that's pretty much it," said Bolt, who also won the 200m and was part of the Jamaican team that won the 4X100m relay.

The service has evolved from its beginnings, allowing users to share content and over 56 million people use BBM globally.

"In recent years, the term 'BBM' has transcended its technological origins to become a brand that is part of the everyday language of millions of people all over the world," said TA McCann, vice president, BBM and Social Communities at BlackBerry maker RIM.

Technology has seen words being included into the vernacular even if they have not been recognised by dictionaries.

People commonly refer to "Googling" a topic online in reference to the internet search giant and "Whatsapp" has also become common among young people to send short messages.

Other terms include "Mxit buddy" to refer to friends made on the local social network and abbreviations like "brb", "lol" and "gr8" are often used as text message shorthand.


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