A witty and linguistically informed look at how our digital world is transforming the English language.
The internet isn't the first technology to alter the way we communicate, but it is making our language change faster and in more interesting ways than ever before. The programmers behind the apps and platforms we use decide how our conversations are structured, from the grammar of status updates to the protocols of comments and @replies. Linguistically inventive niche online communities spread slang and jargon exponentially faster than in the days when new dialects were constrained by physical space. What's more, social media provides a fascinating laboratory for watching language evolve in real time.
Even the most absurd-looking slang--especially the absurd-looking slang--has genuine linguistic patterns behind it. Internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch reveals the deep forces that shape human language and influence the way we communicate with one another. She explains how the year you first accessed the internet determines how you talk online; how ~sparkly tildes~ became the first successful sarcasm punctuation; and why internet dialects like doge, lolspeak, and snek are linguistically significant.
Because Internet is the perfect book for anyone who communicates online, whether your nerves are made out of fiber-optic cables or you're struggling to understand what it means when someone texts you the nail polish emoji. Download and start listening now!