1. “The Internet and The English Language” Article written by Terence Carter Presented by Ian Sylvester April 25, 2007

2. Overview Evolution vs. Devolution of Language Evolution vs. Devolution of Language Internet Word Usage Internet Word Usage “Invisible Person” Syndrome “Invisible Person” Syndrome Internet Training and Tools Internet Training and Tools Change in the English Language Change in the English Language

3. Evolution vs. Devolution of Language ARPANET (Advanced Research Project Agency Network) ARPANET (Advanced Research Project Agency Network) Cryptic command line operation Cryptic command line operation Difficult to use Difficult to use Current Internet Current Internet Return to harsh rigid language due to rapid sharing of information Return to harsh rigid language due to rapid sharing of information Precise language resembles ARPANET command line Precise language resembles ARPANET command line

4. Internet Word Usage Internet written word resembles verbal interaction Internet written word resembles verbal interaction Informal tone, as if talking to a friend Informal tone, as if talking to a friend Elegant Language seen as detrimental Elegant Language seen as detrimental Stenography as a final product Stenography as a final product Authors leave shorthand as final product Authors leave shorthand as final product Use of “LOL”-type abbreviations to add humanity to bare language Use of “LOL”-type abbreviations to add humanity to bare language

5. “Invisible Person” Syndrome Detached identity decreases language accountability Detached identity decreases language accountability Anonymity prevents poor language from affecting personal image. Anonymity prevents poor language from affecting personal image. Alternatively, Language is the only way to derive an impression of a user Alternatively, Language is the only way to derive an impression of a user Poor Language creates a lesser image of the author for his or her audience Poor Language creates a lesser image of the author for his or her audience

6. Training and Tools Majority of the population lacks internet training Majority of the population lacks internet training Cut corners with language to maximize time with internet content Cut corners with language to maximize time with internet content Spell Checkers actually lower language standards. Spell Checkers actually lower language standards. User becomes lazy and dependent User becomes lazy and dependent Vocabulary becomes limited to that of the program list Vocabulary becomes limited to that of the program list “Ignore all” is used, negating any benefits of the program “Ignore all” is used, negating any benefits of the program

7. Change in the English Language Technological changes create language changes Technological changes create language changes Carriage becomes horseless carriage becomes car Carriage becomes horseless carriage becomes car New terms such as downtime and crashing enter the vernacular New terms such as downtime and crashing enter the vernacular Internet language has developed its own separate set of rules Internet language has developed its own separate set of rules Language usage standards differ greatly from written word Language usage standards differ greatly from written word Time will show whether internet language is evolution, or merely a phase of internet growth Time will show whether internet language is evolution, or merely a phase of internet growth

8. Conclusion Characteristics of the internet have created new internet language standards Characteristics of the internet have created new internet language standards Center around the necessity of efficient information transfer, even at the expense of traditional syntax and grammatical correctness. Center around the necessity of efficient information transfer, even at the expense of traditional syntax and grammatical correctness. Time will show if “net-speak” is an evolution of the English language or a branch of its own. Time will show if “net-speak” is an evolution of the English language or a branch of its own.Questions?

9. Works Cited Carter, Terence. "The Internet and the English Language." Writer's Block (1999). 15 Apr. 2007. [MLA]