LINGUIST List 21.2489
Sun Jun 06 2010
Diss: Socioling: Greiffenstern: 'The Influence of Computers, the ...'
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1. Sandra
Greiffenstern,
The Influence of Computers, the Internet and Computer-Mediated Communication on Everyday English
Message 1: The Influence of Computers, the Internet and Computer-Mediated Communication on Everyday English
Date: 06-Jun-2010
From: Sandra Greiffenstern <sandra.greiffensterngmail.com>
Subject: The Influence of Computers, the Internet and Computer-Mediated Communication on Everyday English
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Institution: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Program: Department of English and American Studies
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2010
Author: Sandra Greiffenstern
Dissertation Title: The Influence of Computers, the Internet and Computer-Mediated Communication on Everyday English
Linguistic Field(s):
Sociolinguistics
Subject Language(s): English (eng)
Dissertation Director:
Peter Lucko
Dissertation Abstract:
The dissertation focuses on the use of English in connection with computersand the Internet and on its influences on everyday English. We adapt ourlanguage to new technology, in this case computers and the Internet, and weneed new words to describe new technology and the possibilities it offers.Moreover, metaphors change and the meaning of some words has shifted fromits original meaning to a meaning related to new technologies. In order toassess this influence, two British magazines were analysed for one year,two recent TV shows were tested for features of Computer-MediatedCommunication (CMC) in spoken language, and an extensive analysis of 'TheBank of English', a large corpus, was conducted. The collected data isevaluated and shows the scope of influence from CMC, computers and theInternet.
The introduction and hypotheses are followed by some background informationabout the development and spread of computers and the Internet and aboutthe role that English plays in the use of the Internet. Next, previousstudies dealing with computer-mediated communication are presented. Thisincludes Marshall McLuhan's notion of a global village, linguistic studiesabout CMC, for example, by Naomi Baron, David Crystal and other linguists,and more general studies which deal with new ways of communication viacomputers and the Internet. The third chapter shows the features of CMCbefore dealing with different theories to explain CMC. The comparison ofthe different theories shows how difficult it is to classify CMC. Is it anew register, just a new style, or are there even parallels to thedevelopment of pidgins and creoles? In the fourth chapter, the discussionabout CMC and its influence on everyday language is presented, showing thedifferent arguments and predictions about the development and influence ofCMC. While some fear a deterioration of language, others claim that CMCenriches the linguistic repertoire and facilitates more creativity. In thefifth chapter, the question of how far existing linguistic theories can beapplied to the study of CMC and its influence is considered. It shows wherethe framework of theories is sufficient to explain CMC, its influence andthe rise of technology-related language and where new theories are neededor existing theories need to be adapted to explain CMC, for example,theories about language change and networks. In the sixth chapter, themethodology of the analysis is explained including the data sampling andthe data examination. The seventh chapter deals with neologisms, newphrases and the shift of meanings in connection with computers, theInternet and technology in general. Moreover, it presents metaphors inrelation with computers and the Internet and analyses them. In the eighthchapter, the influence of CMC, computers, and the Internet on everydaylanguage is analysed based on data collected from magazines, book, TV showsand 'The Bank of English'. In chapters nine and ten, the results of thestudy are evaluated and the hypotheses motivating the study are reconsidered.
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