Because Internet

May 15, 2019
The linguistics of informal (unedited) writing on the internet. "The internet and mobile devices have brought us an explosion of writing by normal people," writes McCulloch, a Wired columnist and co-creator of the linguistics-focused podcast Lingthusiasm. In this provocative debut, the author celebrates the internet's "vast sea of unedited, unfiltered words," which constitute "a new genre, informal writing." Online life, she writes, "has become real life." People using social media should be considered "published writers." In conversational prose, she traces the "hidden patterns of written internet language" and how they are changing the way we communicate. She argues that new acronyms (btw, omg, lol), visuals (emoji), animated loops (gifs), emoticons (^-^), and other innovations are making language more efficient and playful. In its "purest form," this new "public, informal, unselfconscious language" can be found in chat rooms. McCulloch's wide-ranging text covers the history (so far) of internet culture, the sociology of users, and the diverse ways in which the internet has shaped our daily online social life. In many instances, the author simply confirms what internet users know: how distinct internet cohorts developed, depending on whether they began socializing online in forums, on blogs, or with Facebook or Instagram; and how older people were slower to engage with the internet and social media. McCulloch reminds us that the frequent texting of teenagers is no different than a previous generation's time spent at malls, "hanging out, flirting, and jockeying for status with their peers." She also salutes unsung heroes of online language innovation: the Canadian Wayne Pearson, who probably coined "lol" in a 1980s chat room; the Japanese, who first used the pile of feces and other emojis; and biologist Richards Dawkins, who in 1976 coined the word "meme." Purists will flinch at many of McCulloch's claims for how informal online writing has benefited our language and society while internet nerds will relish her informative book.

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Starred review from June 10, 2019
McCulloch, writer of the “Resident Linguist” column for Wired and podcast cohost of Lingthusiasm, debuts with a funny and fascinating examination of the evolution of language in the digital age. Exploring everything from capitalization and punctuation to emojis and gifs, her book breaks down the structure of “internet language” in a precise and engaging way. She offers novices a well-structured introduction to modern linguistics, including a history of informal writing and the social implications of language. McCulloch discusses the ongoing shift toward less formal, more concise greetings in message writing, observing that receiving emails from strangers provides a “never-ending multiplayer guessing game of what generation someone’s in,” based on how her correspondent addresses her. She also discusses the stylized language of memes, sharing an excerpt of Genesis translated into the terminology of lolcat memes (“Oh hai. In teh beginning Ceiling Cat maded the skiez An da Urfs...”) and the function of punctuation in text messages, such as how a period may or may not signal passive aggression. An extensive notes section invites readers to further explore the impact the internet has had on language. Thanks to McCulloch’s skill in explaining both academic and popular subjects, this survey will make an excellent starting point for anyone’s exploration of the topic.

July 1, 2019

Taking a deep dive into Internet culture, Wired columnist McCulloch explores the linguistic evolution of the English language based on online forums, affinity groups, and generations of "internet people." From the birth of "lol" to the rise of sparkly tildes, ironic punctuation, memes, and more, the author examines changes in norms surrounding capitalization and punctuation and the implications for online communication. McCulloch then traces the history behind these new standards, often drawing comparison to differences in regional English and historical linguistic applications, placing Internet English within the larger framework of English dialects. It's hard to describe a book on this subject without sounding dry, but this is a fun read for Internet people of all generations as it moves from aLtErNatE lettering and minimalist typography to cat memes and sneks to provide a fascinating look at the development of online English, its roots in early computing, and the ways in which we adapt technology to express emotion. VERDICT Recommended for web and language nerds alike, encompassing illuminating facts on the origin of acronyms, memes, and digital tone of voice.--Gricel Dominguez, Florida International Univ. Lib., Miami

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2019
If linguists are interested in the subconscious patterns behind everyday language, then the unfiltered and so beautifully mundane nature of informal internet writing is a boon for insights about how language changes, writes linguist, podcaster, and blogger McCulloch. Compared with speech or handwriting, which are ephemeral and difficult to analyze, the modern digital writing on display in texts, tweets, and memes encourages and allows for easier examination and interpretation. McCulloch writes enthusiastically about how emoji symbolize digital gestures, how chat technologies have changed conversation over time, and how the post-WWII golden age of acronyms led to the emergence of social acronyms like btw, omg, and lol. There's also a clarifying Taxonomy of Internet People, which marks internet generations based on the services and skills they used when coming online: Old Internet People experienced Usenet, forums, and Listservs, for example, whereas Full Internet People came of age with AOL Instant Messenger, MySpace, and blogs. This is an insightful analysis of language and the internet of right now, in-depth yet accessible to any internet generation.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)