The Web Not the Death of Language

[Dover]

The Web Not the Death of Language


By Kristen Philipkoski | Also by this reporter Page 1 of 1

02:00 AM Feb. 22, 2005 PT

Washington, D.C. -- We love instant messenger for the little pleasures it provides: workday diversions, covert flirting opportunities, parental contact with an easy out.

But communicating using instant messenger, text messaging, even blogging are changing the way humans communicate. The technologies have opened up a whole new field of linguistic studies, and researchers say the impact will be as significant as the advent of the telegraph and telephone.

Traditional linguists fear the internet damages our ability to articulate properly, infusing language with LOLs, dorky emoticons and the gauche sharing of personal information on blogs. But some researchers believe we have entered a new era of expression.

"Resources for the expression of informality in writing have hugely increased -- something not seen in English since the Middle Ages," said David Crystal, an author and linguistics professor at the University of Wales at Bangor. He presented at the American Academy for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Washington, D.C., by recorded DVD when the live feed failed.

At first glance, you might not expect Crystal to get excited about IM utterances. But from behind a long silver beard and coke-bottle glasses, his excitement is clear. The internet is getting more people to write, he said, and that's a great thing.

Some believe the informality of internet-mediated communication is causing the language to deteriorate. ..cont'd

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,66671,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_4

"The prophets of doom emerge every time a new technology influences language, of course -- they gathered when printing was introduced in the 15th century," Crystal said.

[NJCher]

1. interesting story

I am going to have my college writing students read it in class today. It just so happens that their assignment is "unconventional formers of language." Many of them chose IM'ing for a topic.


Cher

[Dover]

2. Would love to hear how that goes...student feedback on the article.n/t