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Digital technology has transformed the way we use language. From text messages to social media posts, from emails to online forums, the explosion of digital communication has created new forms of language use that challenge traditional distinctions between speech and writing. This lesson examines the key features of digital language, evaluates the claims made about its impact on "standard" language, and considers the work of Crystal, Baron, Herring, and others.
Key Definition: Computer-mediated communication (CMC) refers to any form of communication that takes place via digital technology, including email, text messaging, instant messaging, social media, forums, and video calls.
David Crystal (2001, 2006, 2011) has been the most prominent linguist writing about language and technology. In Language and the Internet (2001) and Txting: The Gr8 Db8 (2008), Crystal argued that digital communication represents a genuinely new medium — not simply a degraded form of writing or an imitation of speech.
Crystal coined the term "Netspeak" to describe the language of the internet. He characterised it as a variety that sits between speech and writing, borrowing features from both but also developing characteristics of its own.
Key Definition: Netspeak (Crystal, 2001) is the term used to describe the linguistic features characteristic of internet communication. It occupies a position on the continuum between speech and writing but is distinct from both.
| Feature | Speech | Writing | Netspeak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spontaneity | High | Low (edited) | Variable |
| Permanence | Ephemeral | Permanent | Semi-permanent |
| Visual cues | Facial expression, gesture | Typography, layout | Emoji, GIFs, formatting |
| Prosody | Intonation, stress | Punctuation (limited) | Capitals, repeated letters ("sooooo"), emoji |
| Turn-taking | Real-time | Absent | Asynchronous or semi-synchronous |
| Formality | Variable | Typically higher | Variable; often informal |
Early research on digital language focused heavily on the abbreviated forms used in text messaging — a variety sometimes called "textese."
| Feature | Example | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Letter/number homophones | "gr8" (great), "2nite" (tonight), "b4" (before) | Economy; character limit (160 characters for SMS) |
| Initialisms | "lol" (laughing out loud), "brb" (be right back), "imo" (in my opinion) | Economy; shared code |
| Clipping | "prob" (probably), "def" (definitely) | Economy |
| Vowel omission | "txt" (text), "msg" (message), "pls" (please) | Economy |
| Phonetic spelling | "wanna" (want to), "gonna" (going to), "coz" (because) | Informality; mimics speech |
| Non-standard capitalisation | "i" instead of "I"; or CAPITALS for emphasis | Economy; prosodic function |
The rise of emoji (from Japanese: 絵 "picture" + 文字 "character") has added a visual dimension to digital communication. Emoji serve several functions:
However, emoji are not a universal language. Their interpretation varies across cultures, generations, and platforms. Danesi (2017) argued that emoji represent a form of conceptual metaphor rather than a new linguistic system — they enhance rather than replace verbal language.
Different social media platforms have developed distinctive linguistic norms:
Naomi Baron (2008) in Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World investigated the actual linguistic practices of digital communication. Her research challenged several popular assumptions:
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