SAE in the Digital Age
September 10, 2011
dig1taldiva
While McGann’s article primarily focuses on how digital technology can improve scholarly endeavors and assist in exploring works in the humanities, what stood out to me were his references to language in the context of both learning to use IT tools and the overall impact digital technology has, and will continue to have, on the evolution of communication and education. Having minored in linguistics, the synapses in my brain started firing when I saw the quote: “our sense of language will never be the same” (xiii). Although McGann does not fully explore the effects the digital age has had on language, I can’t help but think of this concept myself. Courses from my undergrad experience like “Language and Culture,” “The Development of the English Language,” and “Principles of Linguistics” have altered the way in which I observe words in my primary language. One assignment I had in “The Development of the English Language” was to go down a few grocery store aisles and note whether or not aisles were marked canned goods or can goods. We were also told to analyze the way we pronounced certain words versus the way we spelled them (i.e. iced tea spelling/ice tea pronunciation). These minor tasks were a part of understanding how language is ever evolving (in these cases based on pronunciation and convenience for the majority of the speakers) and how certain words will become endangered or extinct based on certain factors.
While some words may change (for instance, ice cream used to be iced cream) and some may depart altogether, other words – new words – will enter languages and impact the primary speakers and new learners of it immeasurably. There were numerous discussions in my linguistics courses about how technology is impacting the language of younger generations – how abbreviations/texting lingo are finding their way into students’ scholarly papers. Naturally, those who worked in the Writing Center complained about the difficulties they were having reviewing freshmen papers and there were others who mentioned how their younger siblings were having trouble deciphering which language (so to speak) to use when writing papers for school, etc. Overall, my class took a stand against digital age lingo finding its way into the English language. My professor found our fervor for protecting the English language to be quite amusing and delicately pointed out that the language we know and use today would most likely had been viewed as slang and outlandish to past speakers. While those educated in different areas of English most certainly appreciate the proper use of the English language, it is undeniable that language is always evolving and the digital age has, and more than likely will, continue to influence Standard American English.
Here’s a short and sweet article from the Huffington Post on how social media and the Internet has forever changed our language: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/18/sexting-retweet-cyberbullying-concise-oxford-english-dictionary_n_930347.html
Apologies if anyone else in Eng 566 has posted this link in cyberspace!
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dig1taldiva 
1.
Mary Catherine |
September 12, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Hi Sarah —
It is interesting to think about the ways the English language has evolved over time. I always got a kick out of reading children’s books from the ’50s and ’60s that spelled cookie “cooky,” which seems so strange to look at now.
On the subject of children not knowing which way to write for school, it seems like teachers will have to start emphasizing standard written English, through lessons or through editing students’ papers, if we want children to be able to write in a way that can be understood by all English speakers. There is a place for written slang, but I would hope that children can understand the importance of using proper English for school.
2.
Anthony Carrano (@IfIWereALuddite) |
September 12, 2011 at 2:10 PM
IDK, my BFF Jill…
I think I’m split on this one. On one hand, it hurts to see the standards and conventions of the English language flushed down the toilet, and I feel that “old guard” skepticism of the newer generation’s way of going about things. On the other, it’s fascinating to see the way these changes are bleeding from the internet onto spoken and written English. I think that standard written English needs to be preserved, but it’s really interesting to watch the language we speak evolve, adapt, and grow. This fluidity is part of the joy of speaking a living, breathing language. Your professor’s point about the way past speakers would see our usage sums it up. The current generation rejects the previous generation’s rules, while also not understanding the upcoming generation’s way of doing things.