What real effect is the internet having on language? Like the introduction of any new media, the internet has caused a massive controversy in the way we communicate. We see riting liek dis as being something that is ruining English, but maybe ruining is too strong a word.
On one hand, ruining English is a creative way of getting around technological limitations. For example, spaces which require quick response times like in instant messaging, or chatrooms, are more lenient on bad spelling and grammar. Otherwise it would take too long to contribute to any ongoing conversation. Not having to worry about how things are being spelled helps with the process of speeding things up. And no one wants to spend too long forming a response, otherwise the opportunity to contribute passes.
So we can see netspeak, or chatspeak, or lolspeak (whatever you want to call it), as being quick and efficient forms of language. But that doesn’t begin to cover the scope of the internets influence on language. Apart from the demonstrative misspellings, I have already used four words which I believe are not in the Oxford English Dictionary. And there are several informal uses of language throughout. But I’m sure you will excuse my incoherency ;)
Sometimes, the use of online language is as much a choice as it is necessity imposed by the space. We like to subvert popular culture, and laugh when greeted with an OH HAI. And we like to precede words with e- and i- to imply that they are digital or trendy. And we like to use massively informal conjunctions and emoticons, no matter how well we claim to write.
Perhaps the scope for proper English is changing. After all, proper English has been a butchering in progress since the invention of language. With the internet, we are seeing subcultures adopt their own way of speaking, and eventually these forms end up in mainstream use. It seems to suggest that language is not being ruined, but adapted as the contexts for language use evolve. CHEEZBURGER anyone?
