PDF Summary:Because Internet, by Gretchen McCulloch

How do the digital age and internet continue reshaping our language and communication? In Because Internet, author Gretchen McCulloch explores this evolution from lols and emojis to profound shifts in social norms. She examines the rise of casual writing styles on the internet, noting the influences of different online groups and communities. Nuanced cues like typography and the interplay of formal and informal language unveil how we convey emotion and identity digitally.

Beyond linguistics, McCulloch investigates how internet trends catalyze changes to social structures, collective movements, and self-expression. She delves into how memes shape cultures, digital discourse alters privacy and social bonds, and technology impacts linguistic diversity. This incisive analysis reveals the internet's transformative power over human communication in the modern era.

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McCulloch notes the increasing incorporation of instant messaging features into our everyday conversations. The broad embrace of casual text composition has ushered in a degree of expressiveness once thought to be solely the domain of verbal communication. Initially, text messaging was akin to a more concise form of electronic mail platforms; however, the emergence of smartphones transformed it, encouraging a dialogue dynamic similar to that seen in AIM, Gchat, and Slack. She also notes that the word "text" is expanding to cover a range of messaging interactions, as shown by expressions such as "send me a tweet."

Practical Tips

• Experiment with using text messages as a collaborative tool with friends or family. Create a group chat dedicated to planning an event or managing a project, and use the thread to assign tasks, share updates, and make decisions collectively. This mirrors the dynamic dialogue of workplace tools like Slack and can help you manage personal projects with the same efficiency.
• Expand your digital communication toolbox by learning to use different platforms for messaging, such as Twitter for quick public interactions, WhatsApp for personal messages, and LinkedIn for professional networking. By diversifying your messaging methods, you can tailor your communication style to the context and audience, enhancing your ability to connect with others effectively.

New methods for expressing significance and stress have emerged within digital environments.

The book by Gretchen McCulloch encourages a new examination of previously unchallenged aspects of language and communication, now reshaped by the emergence of online communication tools and the internet. As we transition more towards text-based interaction, we're increasingly recognizing the subtle emotional and physical cues in conversations that we previously overlooked due to their absence.

Digital communication has expanded to encompass elements that engage our sight and offer numerous ways to express ourselves, including the use of emoticons and short, looping videos.

McCulloch suggests that as we incorporate more visual elements like emoticons and short video clips into our conversations, it reflects a natural human tendency to enhance our written communication with elements typical of in-person interactions, conveying emotions and intentions with cues that are usually nonverbal and found in verbal exchanges.

Emojis act as a virtual substitute for the nonverbal cues and gestures we exhibit.

In her investigation, McCulloch examines the role of emoji as modern tools for expressing nonverbal cues in conversation. She explains how certain emojis have become iconic, carrying stable meanings within particular cultural settings, akin to universally recognized gestures like nodding in agreement or blinking playfully. The image of a smiling face with tears often stands in for "lol." She argues that incorporating more emojis helps to emphasize or enhance the communicated message. In reply to a message regarding an upcoming birthday, utilizing a range of emojis like sweets, celebratory balloons, and gifts can successfully convey a celebratory atmosphere, even though the depiction of cakes varies among smartphone brands in details such as taste, from chocolate to vanilla, or the number of candles displayed.

Other Perspectives

• Nonverbal cues include body language, posture, and proximity, which emojis cannot replicate or substitute for in virtual communication.
• The smiling face with tears emoji may not universally signify "lol" as it can also be interpreted as an expression of joy or relief, and in some contexts, it might even be seen as an expression of sadness or being overwhelmed.
• Emojis are often less formal and may not be appropriate in all contexts where a celebratory message is warranted, such as professional or traditional settings.
• The variations in cake emoji designs across smartphone brands, such as taste and candle numbers, are typically not interpreted literally by users; the intent of conveying a birthday or celebration is still clear regardless of these details.

The exploration of emoji usage across different social groups and communities.

Emoji evolve and transform based on their usage, McCulloch notes. The way these terms gain importance is influenced by the groups that adopt them, similar to how slang and different expressions on the internet develop over time. The eggplant emoji has evolved to imply a provocative connotation, while the image of a pile of poo often expresses humor when indicating disapproval. The increasing ubiquity of pictographic symbols presents challenges akin to those encountered in traditional forms of communication, such as controlling unsuitable content and elucidating interpretations that differ among various cultures. The growing necessity for a standardized depiction of emojis is evident, particularly when a single dancer emoji is displayed as multiple characters across diverse platforms.

Context

• The Unicode Consortium is responsible for standardizing emojis across platforms, ensuring that they appear consistently on different devices and operating systems.
• Both slang and emoji can undergo semantic shifts, where their meanings change over time due to cultural influences, user creativity, and contextual usage.
• The use of the eggplant emoji in this way is part of a broader trend where emojis are employed to bypass censorship on social media platforms, as text-based references might be flagged or removed.
• While it may be humorous in some cultures, in others, it might be seen as offensive or inappropriate, highlighting the importance of understanding audience and context.
• The rapid evolution of emoji usage can outpace the ability of technology to filter or moderate content effectively, posing challenges for content moderation systems.

Incorporating elements that engage multiple senses, including sight, provides benefits beyond what is possible with solely text-based communication.

McCulloch presents the case that emoji possess benefits not found in text-only communication. Emoji facilitate the accurate expression of feelings and purposes with icons, thereby circumventing the complexities and possible misinterpretations associated with communicating subtle social signals in written form. Even toddlers and individuals who lack a common language can effortlessly convey the joyous message of "happy birthday" through universally acknowledged symbols such as a cake, a balloon, and a colorfully wrapped gift. However, she emphasizes that emoji do not have the ability to function as a complete language and are inadequate in expressing the wide range of concepts that words can, especially those that are abstract or challenging to represent with images.

Practical Tips

• Create a personal relaxation space in your home that combines visual elements like calming colors or imagery with audio elements such as nature sounds or soft music. This multi-sensory environment can help you unwind after a stressful day and improve your overall well-being.
• Use universally recognized symbols to create a picture-based scavenger hunt for a diverse group of participants. This activity can be a fun way to engage people from different language backgrounds in a community or team-building event. Each clue would consist of a symbol or a series of symbols that lead to the next location or item, encouraging non-verbal problem-solving and cooperation.
• Start a personal emoji diary where you attempt to summarize your day or feelings using only emojis, and then follow up with a written paragraph that captures the nuances missed by the emojis. This exercise will help you recognize the limitations of emojis in expressing detailed experiences. For example, you might use a sun emoji to represent a good day, but the accompanying paragraph can delve into the specifics of what made the day enjoyable, such as a successful meeting or a pleasant lunch with a friend.

Online communication frequently utilizes typographical cues to express mood, intent, and individual identity.

McCulloch suggests that the evolution of digital writing has led to the development of complex typographic methods that compensate for the absence of traditional cues like facial expressions and body language. In this chapter, the author prompts us to consider how tools that might be employed by someone as devoid of empathy as a Stone-Hearted Ice Witch can also cause astonishment when a familiar emblem for conveying strong feelings is absent. They may be employed in manners that are imaginative, enjoyable, and heartfelt.

Innovative spelling coupled with fresh methods of using capital letters and punctuation marks are now commonplace.

McCulloch has tracked the evolution of typographic methods used to convey importance over time. Early users of computer technology often typed in capital letters, a practice echoing older forms of communication such as telegraphs and Morse code. The evolution of the internet towards greater ease of use, coupled with Unix programmers' inclination towards using lowercase, has shifted the interpretation of text in all capital letters from being a sign of official documentation and signs to a signal that someone is shouting. She additionally observes the evolution of expressing sarcasm and irony in digital communication, transitioning from explicit markers or tags that emphasize sarcasm to the use of a tilde and nuanced textual styles that create a more refined and whimsical effect.

Practical Tips

• Personalize your social media profiles with a stylized version of your name or handle. For example, if your name is "Emily," you might use "eM!ly" or "Emi-Lee" to catch the eye of friends and followers. This can serve as a conversation starter and help you create a unique online identity.
• Engage with a friend or family member in a week-long communication challenge where you only use handwritten notes in all caps to communicate with each other. At the end of the week, discuss the experience and any differences noticed in interpretation or feelings associated with the all-caps notes versus regular text. This can highlight the impact of text formatting on interpersonal communication.
• Use unconventional emoji sequences to replace traditional sarcasm markers in your online conversations. Instead of typing "That's great" in a sarcastic tone, you might use a sequence like 😒👍🎉 to visually represent your sarcasm without words.

Employing typographic signs is essential to convey irony and nuanced emotional subtleties.

McCulloch suggests that the expanding array of typographical options now offers novel ways to express irony and sarcasm through writing, a challenge that writers have faced in the past, for instance, when they recommended the use of inverted punctuation to signify a questioning intonation. Gretchen McCulloch argues that deviations from conventional writing are frequently intentional, serving to express subtle emotional nuances, as seen in the habit of using all lowercase letters when typing, which originated from the ease of use on early Unix systems but has become more effortful with the automatic capitalization feature on modern smartphones.

Other Perspectives

• Inverted punctuation for signifying questioning intonation could be seen as redundant or unnecessary in writing, as skilled writers can use context and word choice to convey the same effect.
• Deviations from conventional writing can sometimes be misinterpreted, leading to confusion rather than clarity in expressing emotional nuances.
• While early Unix systems may have influenced the use of lowercase typing, it's important to consider the role of other early computing systems and user interfaces that may have also contributed to this trend.
• While it's true that modern smartphones automatically capitalize letters, users can easily disable this feature in their keyboard settings, making the use of all lowercase letters less effortful.

The choice of typography often mirrors a person's identity and indicates their association with a specific community.

The author explores how typographic selections express personal identity and indicate belonging to specific communities. She argues that the way we utilize punctuation and capitalization in text messages serves not only to express our immediate feelings and the meaning we wish to convey but also to shed light on our social identity and the communities we align ourselves with. For instance, individuals proficient in coding may incorporate jokes pertinent to their expertise (such as the sarcastic remark "I didn't mean any offense") or create intricate exclamations akin to bang!paths, which are a nod to the initial era of electronic mail, showcasing their proficiency. The typing style that became popular online for its humor often conveys a tone of sarcasm or deadpan humor, capitalizing on the belief that it arises from a lack of knowledge about conventional typing standards. To make either choice, one must have a deep comprehension of the nuances of language.

Other Perspectives

• While typographic selections can reflect personal identity, they are not always a reliable indicator of community association, as individuals may adopt various typographic styles for different contexts or platforms without a strong sense of belonging to the associated communities.
• The interpretation of punctuation and capitalization is subjective, and what one person sees as an expression of identity, another may see as a simple grammatical choice.
• The use of specialized language, such as bang!paths, may not always be intended to showcase proficiency but rather to create a sense of camaraderie among those in the know, which could be more about community than individual identity.
• The use of unconventional typing styles for humor can be a conscious artistic choice, reflecting creativity and a deep understanding of language and its impact on readers, rather than a deficiency in knowledge.
• In some cases, typographic choices are made to conform to professional or industry standards, which may not require a deep understanding of language nuances but rather adherence to a prescribed format.

Online conversations frequently blend informal and conventional language patterns.

In this part, McCulloch addresses the worry that the core structure of language stands firm, unaltered by the advent of technology and informal digital discourse. She argues that the broadening of informal linguistic expressions has enriched our overall understanding of what the language can do.

Digital interactions are marked by the coexistence of highly polished, traditional language and unbridled, creative expressions.

The interplay between formal and informal language within the sphere of digital communication. Online communication, as she underscores, frequently includes impromptu and informal interactions, such as those observed in tweets. In contrast, ebooks, news outlets, and corporate main pages might be subjected to an editing process as thorough as that applied to their printed counterparts. The evolution of these communication methods, she argues, transcends the simple choice between interacting within the digital sphere or in the tangible world. The lines separating them have increasingly blurred. People use internet slang for humor and emphasis in everyday speech ("hashtag awkward moment") even among the non-internet using population, while even the most casual of internet user is expected to be able to follow basic email etiquette or compose a professional SMS.

Context

• Language users adapt their communication style based on the platform and audience, often switching between formal and informal language to suit the context, which is a skill known as code-switching.
• Tweets are often limited to a specific character count, which encourages brevity and spontaneity. This format fosters quick, off-the-cuff communication that can capture immediate thoughts or reactions.
• Advanced editing tools and software are often employed to enhance the editing process, allowing for efficient management of large volumes of content and ensuring high-quality output.
• The internet enables real-time communication across the globe, diminishing the relevance of physical distance and creating a more interconnected world.
• Email etiquette includes using a clear subject line, addressing the recipient appropriately, maintaining a polite tone, and using proper grammar and punctuation. It also involves being concise and ensuring that attachments are appropriately labeled and not too large.

New genres are now merging traditional structures with a casual style.

McCulloch emphasizes the ongoing development of creative textual formats that adeptly blend aspects of both structured and casual styles. "Welcome to Night Vale" first rose to prominence through online platforms, building a significant fan base on social media sites like Tumblr, which in turn sparked the creation of live performances and attracted interest from various media outlets. The literary category of fan fiction, which is influenced by classic characters such as the detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and extends beyond the era of the internet, has recently experienced a notable increase in interest, with online communities producing a vast array of interrelated works.

Practical Tips

• Start a niche podcast about a local legend or unique aspect of your town to create a sense of community and intrigue. By focusing on storytelling and engaging content, you can attract a dedicated listener base. For example, if your town has a mysterious historical event, use that as the basis for your podcast's theme, and encourage listeners to share their stories and theories.
• Start your own fan fiction by choosing a classic character you love and writing a short story. This allows you to engage creatively with the source material and contribute to the fan fiction community. For example, if you're intrigued by Dracula, you could write a story about his adventures in the modern world. Share your work on fan fiction websites to connect with others and get feedback.

Our understanding of what constitutes conventional or proper language is shaped by digital communication.

McCulloch suggests that the widespread casual text communication found on the internet challenges traditional notions of "correct" and "conventional" language usage. Instead of viewing internet language as a degradation of standard English, she sees it as an enrichment that broadens the scope for expressing oneself in writing. For example, she cites studies showing that people who often use internet slang perform just as well, if not better, than those who avoid such shortcuts in terms of spelling skills, formal writing, and various literacy standards. Internet lingo, rather than diminishing our ability to communicate formally, has in fact bolstered our skill in conveying subtle meanings, a proficiency that concurrently strengthens our grasp on various formal communication methods.

Context

• Different platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok have unique linguistic styles and conventions, influencing how language is used and perceived in digital spaces.
• Language has always evolved with cultural and technological changes. The printing press, for example, standardized spelling and grammar, while the internet introduces new forms of expression and vocabulary.
• Using internet slang can heighten metalinguistic awareness, which is the ability to think about and analyze language as a system. This awareness can improve understanding of language rules and structures, aiding in formal writing and spelling.
• The brevity of internet communication often relies on subtext, where much is implied rather than explicitly stated, requiring readers to infer meaning based on context and prior knowledge.

The manner in which we communicate has undergone substantial transformations in the digital era, carrying with it profound social and cultural implications.

McCulloch explores the profound changes in language as it shifts from a traditional written form to an evolving digital landscape, scrutinizing how digital communication has revolutionized not only our textual conversations but also the nature of our social connections, community dynamics, cultural movements, and self-identity.

Memes found online significantly influence and spread culture by encouraging active participation and sharing.

McCulloch suggests that the essence of cultural engagement and collective effort is best exemplified by memes, elements of online culture known for their swift evolution and remarkable adaptability.

Memes play a significant role in collectively molding and defining cultural identities.

Internet memes have transformed into distinctive emblems that signify cultural belonging, serving not only as instruments for communication but also as indicators of inclusion in a group. Understanding the significance of a meme may reveal an individual's connection to a particular group or subculture. She cites research indicating that videos featuring deliberate imperfections, like glitches or unpolished editing, are more often circulated and modified than their polished, professionally produced counterparts, underscoring the appeal of memes and participatory cultures, which is rooted in their unrefined form that invites further personalization and alterations.

Other Perspectives

• The understanding of a meme might be superficial and not reflect an individual's true understanding or engagement with the underlying cultural context or values of the group or subculture.
• While videos with deliberate imperfections may be circulated and modified often, this does not necessarily mean they are more impactful or memorable than polished content, which can also go viral and be widely shared due to high production values, celebrity involvement, or association with established brands.
• While unrefined forms may invite personalization, they can also be perceived as unprofessional or low-effort, which might detract from their credibility or appeal to certain audiences.

Memes proliferate and transform, mirroring changes in authority and societal limits.

McCulloch explores how memes contribute to the reinforcement of social boundaries, which can yield both positive and negative outcomes. Sharing humorous content that pertains to rules of grammar helps to build camaraderie among certain circles, particularly those who are deeply involved in linguistic research. However, such trends can also result in the marginalization of individuals who are not part of the collective, particularly when an internet phenomenon is associated with a harmful ideology. She emphasizes how memes undergo different stages of cultural integration, as shown by the rhythmic hand gesture that claps on syllables, which originated in African American communities and later became widely recognized via Twitter.

Practical Tips

• Create personalized grammar greeting cards for friends and colleagues to celebrate special occasions or achievements. Use puns, wordplay, or common grammatical misconceptions to craft messages that are both entertaining and educational. For instance, a birthday card might playfully correct a common misused phrase, turning it into a humorous yet informative message.
• Start a conversation with friends or family about the impact of memes by discussing a specific meme and its broader implications on society. Use this as an opportunity to raise awareness about the potential harm of seemingly harmless jokes. Encourage them to think about the messages behind the memes they share and to consider the feelings of those who might be marginalized by the content. This can lead to a more mindful approach to meme-sharing within your social circle.
• You can foster critical thinking by starting a personal "ideology audit" journal where you reflect on different ideologies you encounter online. Write down the core beliefs, the arguments used to support them, and any potential biases or logical fallacies. This practice will help you recognize harmful ideologies and understand how they could lead to marginalization.
• You can track the evolution of a meme by creating a visual timeline. Start by selecting a meme that you find particularly interesting or that has recently gained popularity. Use a simple graphic design tool or even a spreadsheet to mark the date when you first noticed the meme. Then, periodically update the timeline with new iterations or notable appearances of the meme in different media. This will give you a visual representation of its cultural integration and changes over time.
• Use rhythmic hand clapping as a creative exercise when you're feeling stuck or need a mental break. Take a few minutes to clap out rhythms, experimenting with different patterns and speeds. This can serve as a brain workout, helping to improve your coordination and rhythm while also paying homage to the tradition's origins.
• Start a Twitter challenge that encourages others to replicate your gesture and share it with their followers. Make sure to create a catchy hashtag for the challenge and offer an incentive for participation, such as donating to a related charity for every gesture shared. This could be similar to the Ice Bucket Challenge, but with your unique gesture to spread awareness for your chosen cause.

Memes frequently serve as channels through which political and ideological beliefs are expressed, including the integration of memes into broader cultural contexts.

McCulloch notes the increasing tendency to use internet memes as a means of conveying political and ideological beliefs. The 2016 U.S. presidential election underscored the challenge of discerning between offhand Nazi references and the genuine threat posed by escalating white supremacist clout, a task confronted by individuals such as Mike Godwin.

Other Perspectives

• The spread of political memes can contribute to the polarization of discourse by reinforcing echo chambers and limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints.
• The focus on Nazi references might overshadow other forms of extremist or hateful ideologies that were also present and potentially influential during the 2016 election, suggesting that the challenge is broader than identifying white supremacist clout alone.
• While individuals like Mike Godwin contribute to the discourse, it is a collective responsibility involving social media platforms, policymakers, and community leaders to address the issue of white supremacy in memes.

The development of social structures and levels of authority within digital communication.

McCulloch emphasizes the way digital connectivity blurs the lines between our experiences in the physical world and those we encounter online, transforming our views on individual relationships, community ties, and social rankings. Digital communication has led to the creation of unique social structures, challenging traditional notions of privacy and public interaction.

New norms and practices have emerged for navigating context, privacy, and how we present ourselves within the realm of online communication.

Gretchen McCulloch suggests that our management of context, privacy, and how we display our identities in social settings has been significantly transformed by the advent of digital communication. The author, Gretchen McCulloch, emphasizes the challenges posed by online communication when a message reaches unintended recipients beyond the original target audience. Individuals who primarily engage with their real-life friends through online channels, or those familiar with the early days of the internet when using pseudonyms was the norm, often encounter this issue less frequently. Individuals fully immersed in the digital world have addressed this issue by migrating from one social media network to another over time, thus ensuring their most cringe-worthy episodes remain hidden on platforms like MySpace, Friendster, or LiveJournal. People who were raised during the era of digital technology frequently employ tactics like subtweeting and vaguebooking, crafting messages that are deliberately cryptic and only decipherable to those with common understanding, akin to murmuring in a foreign tongue to those in close proximity.

Context

• The rise of features like Stories on Instagram and Snapchat, which disappear after a set period, reflects a shift towards more temporary forms of communication, allowing users to share content without long-term implications.
• Algorithms that curate content can affect how identity is displayed and perceived, as they often prioritize certain types of content, influencing public perception and self-presentation strategies.
• Different generations have varying comfort levels and strategies for managing online identity and privacy, influenced by their exposure to technology.
• The potential for content to go viral means that even a message intended for a small group can quickly reach a global audience if it resonates or is controversial.
• There is generally a higher level of trust with real-life friends, which can lead to more open and honest communication without fear of privacy breaches.
• Unlike many modern platforms that enforce real-name policies, early internet services rarely had such requirements, making pseudonyms a practical choice for many users.
• As users grow and their social circles change, they may move to platforms that better cater to their current demographic or professional networks.
• People who grew up with digital technology are often referred to as digital natives. They are typically more adept at navigating online communication norms and privacy settings, having been exposed to these technologies from a young age.
• Understanding these cryptic messages often requires shared cultural or social knowledge, such as inside jokes, shared experiences, or mutual acquaintances, which creates a sense of in-group belonging.
• These tactics can be used to express emotions or opinions without direct confrontation, allowing users to vent or share feelings in a way that feels safer or less exposed.
• The practice of using coded language is not new and has historical precedents in various forms of communication, such as wartime codes or secret languages used by marginalized groups to communicate safely.
• In digital spaces, users often tailor their messages to specific audiences, using privacy settings or selective sharing to control who can see their content, much like choosing who to speak to in a crowded room.

The transformation of social bonds, collective areas, and different social gatherings during the digital communication age.

McCulloch analyzes the impact of online interactions on the concept of third places, those spaces that are neither home nor work but still facilitate social interaction. She uses Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms as examples, comparing their features and usage patterns to traditional third places such as coffee shops or pubs. In the digital domain, akin to their counterparts in the tangible world, these platforms have become crucial for exchanging ideas, fostering connections, and engaging in collective endeavors. For instance, the Arab Spring and Black Lives Matter movements primarily propagated and amplified their ideologies by utilizing digital networks that played a pivotal role in rallying their supporters. She also underscores that platforms like Twitter stand out because they can engage with a global audience, free from the constraints of physical distance. The thrill of gaining broad recognition on the internet is tempered by the concern of being ignored by one's peers and the disconcerting possibility of interacting with people who hold extreme views.

Context

• Issues such as online harassment, misinformation, and the digital divide can affect the quality and inclusivity of interactions in these spaces.
• These spaces are typically accessible, welcoming, and accommodating, often characterized by regular patrons, a playful mood, and a sense of home away from home. They encourage spontaneous social interactions and foster a sense of community.
• The use of digital platforms affects mental health and social dynamics, with studies showing both positive effects, like increased connectivity, and negative effects, such as anxiety and cyberbullying.
• These movements illustrate how digital platforms can create a sense of global solidarity. People from different parts of the world can participate in discussions, show support, and even organize local events in solidarity with the movements, creating a global community of activists.
• Twitter offers translation features that help bridge language barriers, allowing users to engage with content in different languages.
• While the internet connects people globally, the impact of online recognition can vary significantly depending on cultural, social, and economic contexts, affecting how individuals perceive and react to online interactions.

Technological progress has broadened or constrained the range of language diversity and accessibility.

The internet, as McCulloch observes, serves a dual purpose by both expanding and reducing the diversity of languages. Social media has played a crucial role in amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, fostering the spread of new slang, rapid sharing of memes, and the emergence of unique language styles, which has led to increased documentation and acknowledgment of vernaculars that were previously rarely recorded. The worldwide adoption of the internet, even among non-English speakers, has transformed social media and numerous casual communication channels into an extensive repository of linguistic data. However, McCulloch acknowledges that major tech companies tend to favor particular languages by choosing certain datasets that form the basis for features like predictive typing and tools that convert languages. She expresses concern that the multitude of the planet's 7,000 languages might be neglected due to an imbalanced emphasis on several prevailing tongues, such as English.

The author's final point emphasizes the inherent strength and adaptability of language systems. The emergence of novel stylistic conventions and norms in conversation is a direct result of the undeniable transformation in our communication methods due to the internet. Human communication evolves and changes constantly, regardless of the platform or advancements in technology. McCulloch champions the boundless creativity and articulateness present in digital communication, seeing it as a reinforcement and enrichment of human connection, instead of lamenting the decline of traditional structured writing.

Context

• The internet connects people from different linguistic backgrounds, allowing for the exchange and blending of languages, which can lead to the creation of hybrid languages or pidgins.
• Social media platforms are accessible to a vast number of people worldwide, allowing individuals from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and perspectives, which might otherwise be overlooked by mainstream media.
• Advances in technology, such as speech recognition and translation software, are increasingly being adapted to include more languages and dialects, aiding in their documentation and preservation.
• The vast amount of linguistic data available on social media is crucial for developing and refining computational models, such as natural language processing algorithms, which require large datasets to improve accuracy and functionality.
• Some languages present unique technical challenges due to their complex scripts, lack of standardized orthography, or limited digital presence, making them less likely to be prioritized by tech companies.
• Language is a key component of cultural identity, and the neglect of minority languages can lead to cultural erosion and loss of heritage.
• New words and expressions are constantly being created to describe novel experiences or technologies, illustrating the dynamic nature of language systems in adapting to contemporary life.
• Instant feedback mechanisms, like likes and comments, influence how people communicate, encouraging more interactive and dynamic exchanges.
• Radio, television, and film have historically played roles in shaping language by popularizing certain dialects and slang, influencing public perception of language norms.
• Online platforms provide access to educational resources and language learning tools, broadening opportunities for personal and professional growth.