This morphing of LOL is used as an example in the very interesting and enjoyable book "Words on the Move: Why English Won't – and Can't – Sit Still (Like, Literally)" by John McWhorter.…
There's no distortion. He might have been joking, but it was related during banter when he was a guest on the "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" game show, not an edited interview.
This morphing of LOL is used as an example in the very interesting and enjoyable book "Words on the Move: Why English Won't – and Can't – Sit Still (Like, Literally)" by John McWhorter.…
There's no distortion. He might have been joking, but it was related during banter when he was a guest on the "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" game show, not an edited interview.