Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics 105: Linguistics of TikTok - Interview with Adam Aleksic aka EtymologyNerd
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Jun 20, 2025 
In this discussion, Adam Aleksic, also known as Etymology Nerd, shares his journey from etymology to creating engaging content on TikTok and other platforms. He dives into how algorithms shape modern communication, specifically through short-form videos. Adam explores the evolution of digital slang and the differences in audience engagement between video formats and podcasts. Additionally, he discusses the challenges of writing a book in a rapidly changing linguistic landscape and the implications of censorship on language adaptation.
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Jumping On Slang Trends Paid Off
- Adam covered recent slang from the 'Rizzler' song like Rizz and Skibity early and those videos reached millions of views.
- He attributes that success to jumping on trends before others and the algorithm amplifying those words.
Words Act As Algorithmic Metadata
- Online trending words act as metadata that algorithms detect and amplify across audios and hashtags.
- Language change online ties closely to algorithmic promotion of trending words.
Why Some Slang Sticks
- Obtrusivity makes some slang stick out and fail to normalize, while other terms like selfie lexicalize and become regular words.
- Whether slang endures depends on how well it fills lexical niches and integrates into broader usage.
