Language and the internet: what's YOUR opinion?

**simX** · February 25th, 2002, 02:57 AM

So guys... I've been reading an interesting book called "Language and the Internet" by David Crystal -- it's actually quite good. I was wondering your guys' opinion on the topic.

What do you guys think about the effect that the internet is having on language, both in the way we write and the way we speak? Is the internet medium more related to speech or writing, does it have qualities of both, or is it inherently something of its own?

Other things to ponder in your response to this topic: do you think it's hard to perceive how a poster is "speaking", as in his emotions or what he is trying to convey. Do you think that it often happens that we misunderstand each other, or do you think we pretty much understand what the "writer" of the post is trying to convey? How about emoticons; do they add to the medium, or do they just muddy the waters even more?

I don't think this topic has been brought up before (and I hope that it will at least stay in this forum, because it IS general discussion -- at least leave a link to it from here, admin), but I wanted to know people's opinion on this topic. Anybody and everybody is encouraged to respond; I find this topic fascinating, and wanted to know what you all think.

Speak your mind! Don't try to answer every question I've posed -- just post what you find fascinating/think is interesting/take issue with/think is particularly misunderstood/etc. Anything related to the topic is fine.

**edX** · February 25th, 2002, 03:47 AM

there is a part of me that longs for the day we do this all on webcams. the other part says i don't want to get out of my bathrobe to do it

i think we constantly misunderstand each other. most of the time it gets worked out. sometimes the working it out only leads to more confusion. people will always project their own interpretations into any communication. the written word offers more chance of this than the spoken word. inflection and tone help to minimize it.

also, without visual cues, we don't know near as much about the writer. sometimes this is good. we learn to like people for who they are in their expression rather than the way they look. other times it gets in the way. we make assumptions about people that confuse the whole process of communication.

and since we are using English, well anybody that wants to communicate with me is, it is often hard to know just how well the other person understands it. Is the reason that they don't tell you everything because they don't know how, or is it that just like to speak in some internet language they and their friends have developed? or are they really as uneducated as they sound? or do they not understand me because i am using the wrong words given their mastery level?

I think one reason i like this site is because most people here attempt to communicate on a mature level without getting obnoxiously intellectual in the process. people are generally accepting of not understanding and are willing to discuss thru it.

for me, one of the more interesting aspects of the internet is not always what people say, but rather what they hide. what people hesitate to reveal is often as revealling as what they admit to.

oh, and smilies help

**symphonix** · February 25th, 2002, 04:36 AM

I'm currently reading "Digital Mantras" which is about the history of language and artistic forms such as music, and how these concepts will apply in the information world. It is fascinating reading, and talks a great deal about the sanskrit language, mythology, etc. Definitely worth a look if you see it in your library.

Ed, I have a morbid fear of webcams and dislike the telephone, so for now the internet is quite appealing, provided people take their time over their posts. IRC and SMS are a sheer nightmare and, I think, haven't added to the world's communication of ideas, but rather gotten in the way.

I wonder how much human language will have changed in 200 years time?

**AdmiralAK** · February 25th, 2002, 07:29 AM

people misunderstand us even when we speak to them in real life if they don't know us well

It's all a amtter of getting used to people ;-)

**fiznutz** · February 25th, 2002, 07:54 AM

after a couple of pints i tend to understand everybody despite language barrier

**Klink** · February 25th, 2002, 11:20 AM

Very cool topic simX.

Hey fiznutz, long to no write. Hope things are going well for you.

Ed and I have had a few discussions on this very topic and he's basically made my points clear in his post. The one thing I can add is the use of emoticons. I once had a disdain for them but now feel they make a reasonable attempt at describing basic facial expressions and help in bringing across ones true meaning (if there is such a thing). And Admiral brings up a good point as well in that sometimes, even with all the verbal and visual cues a person can give another during a conversation, there can still be times of misunderstanding. Getting to know what the different subtleties of verbal and visual cues are for people is part of getting to know someone and understanding them. Very interesting I think.

**Izzy** · February 25th, 2002, 12:12 PM

I think the internet has both helped and hurt language and communication in general...

Helped - by conveying our thoughts and emotions through written word I think it has helped foster language skills and creative expression

Hurt - shorthand and slang have hurt grammar (don't even get started on what it has done to mine

) and have made spellcheck and grammar check almost a necessity in real life

Antyime you express something to someone while not being in face to face contact with them, you run a high risk of being understood...so much of what we say is packaged in non-verbal communication that a lot of the times we don't even realize it (not to mention cultural differences in word meaning and tone). Communication is wonderfully complex and fascinating if you study the science of it.

As to the issue of emoticons...I love em