David Crystal - How is the internet changing language today?

Summary

This video explores how technology has continuously transformed language, from the printing press to the internet. Each new medium—such as telephone, broadcasting, and the web—has introduced unique language styles and communication methods. While the fundamental structure of English hasn't drastically changed, new forms of expression have emerged through digital platforms like blogs, social media, and texting. Emoticons, creative punctuation, and informal language use have enriched online communication, making language more expressive than ever, though grammar and vocabulary remain largely consistent.

Takeaways

• 😀 Technology has always influenced language, shaping how we communicate and use language over time.
• 📚 The advent of printing in the 1400s changed language by introducing new styles, spellings, and punctuation systems.
• 📞 The telephone in the 19th century brought new patterns of dialogue and altered language use.
• 📻 Broadcasting in the 1920s created new language forms like sports commentary, news reading, and chat shows.
• 🌐 The internet has created a highly diversified language, offering many different forms of electronically mediated communication.
• 💻 The internet has introduced various platforms such as blogs, chat rooms, social media, and texting, each influencing language differently.
• 📝 Blogging language differs significantly from the language used in instant messaging, highlighting the variety of internet communication styles.
• 🔠 Despite these technological innovations, the core structure of the English language (grammar and pronunciation) has not changed drastically.
• 💬 While vocabulary has expanded with a few hundred new words, it hasn't changed significantly in comparison to the overall size of the English language.
• ⏳ Punctuation has evolved with the internet, with innovations like emoticons and exaggerated punctuation usage that were previously uncommon.

Q & A

How did the invention of printing in the 1400s impact language?

The invention of printing in the 1400s led to the development of new styles, spellings, punctuation systems, and other language changes as it made written communication more accessible and standardized.

In what way did the telephone, introduced in the 19th century, change language?

The telephone introduced new patterns of dialogue, allowing for more direct and immediate communication, which impacted how people interacted linguistically.

What role did broadcasting, starting in the 1920s, play in language evolution?

Broadcasting created new language forms, such as sports commentary, news reading, weather forecasting, and chat shows, which had never been seen before.

How has the internet diversified language?

The internet has led to the creation of numerous communication platforms, such as email, social media, blogging, and instant messaging, each introducing unique linguistic styles specific to their medium.

What are some examples of new styles of English emerging due to the internet?

Examples include the distinct language used in blogging, instant messaging, and social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, each having their own informal or specific linguistic conventions.

Has the overall structure or grammar of English changed due to the internet?

No, the overall grammar of English hasn't changed significantly. While new styles have emerged, traditional grammatical rules remain the same.

Have new words been added to the English language because of the internet?

Yes, a few hundred new words have been added to the English language as a result of the internet, but this number is small compared to the total vocabulary of over a million words.

How has punctuation evolved due to the internet?

Punctuation has evolved with the internet, with new features such as the use of emoticons and exaggerated punctuation. For instance, people can hold down the exclamation mark key to express enthusiasm or excitement in a way that wasn't previously possible.

What does the use of emoticons in online communication represent?

Emoticons are used to convey emotions and tone, adding an expressive dimension to online communication that words alone might not convey.

Despite all the new mediums and styles, has the fundamental nature of the English language changed?

No, the fundamental nature of the English language has not changed. The language remains largely the same, but its expressive capacity has expanded with new mediums and forms of communication.