INTRODUCTION
In this unit, we shall be looking at the new ways of communicating brought about by modern technology. Communication in the past had been through speech and later writing. However, in the modern period, communication has been made easy, even though we still use speech and writing to a great extent, they are aided by some modern technological instruments, such as the computer and mobile phones.
Our concern in this unit is to see how the new ways of communicating using these technological media differ from the conventional face-to- face speech communication and writing. We shall be examining the challenges these new ways of communicating poses for language users, particularly learners of language.
Some of the major advantages of the modern ways of communicating through the use of computer and mobile phones are: faster and instant delivery of the message; communication is location independent; communicators can reach a larger number of people at one time, and so forth. These advantages of the modern ways of communicating make it attractive to the youth.
3.1 New Varieties: An Introduction
According to the Wikipedia Dictionary, Technologically Mediated Discourse (TMD) or Computer mediated Communication (CMC) is any form of communication between two or more individual people who interact and/or influence each other via separate computers through the Internet or a network connection - using social software. CMC does not include the methods by which two computers communicate, but rather how people communicate using computers. It is only peripherally concerned with any common work product created. CMC includes: e- mailing, text messaging, audio and video conferencing, online chats, list servers, bulletin boards, web pages, and so forth.
CMC differs in many respects from the conventional ways of communicating. Some of the variables that make it different from the conventional ways of communicating include:
(a) synchronicity–this refers to the situation in which two more events happen together at the same time or place. This is possible in CMC because users of computer do many things together at the same time;
(b) granularity–this refers to the size of the simultaneously executing
parts of a
parallel program. The size or length of text that can be sent on computer is not limited as such;
(c) Multi–modality–this refers to the use of more than one mode within the same discourse. As users use the computer they can speak, write at the same time by pressing the right buttons on the system.
With these features one can see that CMC offers the users a lot of
advantages that other ordinary media of communication do not offer.
3.1.1 SMS Text Messaging
This is a modern way of communicating through the use of cell phones. SMS is otherwise an abbreviation for the expression ‘short messaging services’. As the name goes it offers users the opportunity to send messages using limited number of characters (usually between 140 and 160 characters). This affords users the opportunity to be creative with the language so as to maximise space. In the process, users have devised condensed expressions and non-conventional spellings to be able to put their message within the limited space provided.
In text messaging, according to (Bush, 2005),
Users are trying to define themselves stylistically to their groups by playing with the language and creating new prescriptive rules for written language in the process.
It has been observed that since the language of text messaging is fragmented, it gives room for ambiguity. Scholars have identified the major characteristics of text messaging, looking at their linguistic peculiarities. We shall quickly discuss the linguistic devices used in constructing SMS text messages.
(a) The use of letter homophones or homophonic single grapheme
abbreviation, e.g.:
b - be
c - see
- you
- are
- why
(b) The use of numeric characters in place of homophones, e.g.:
b4 - before
- later
- tonight
- create
(c) The use of abbreviations, e.g.:
- because
- telephone
- hello
infor - information
(d) The dropping of vowels, e.g.:
lnch
-
lunch
fwd
-
forward
chn
-
children
wkd
-
weekend
pls
-
please
(e) The use of acronyms, e.g.:
LOL -
lots of love
TB -
text back
fyi -
for your information
omg -
oh my God
(f) The use of Number homophones, e.g.:
4 - for, four
2
1
8
(g) The use of non-conventional spelling, e.g:
luv - love
gud - good
kul - cool
juz - just
Many linguists believe that text messaging is going through a natural progression of language. With the involvement of the youth, what we have at hand is a gradual shift in language – cultural movement. Teachers of English are already apprehensive about the effect of this new style on the formal writing of their pupils.
3.1.2 E-mail Messaging
The Internet e-mail messaging is another technology media, which has considerably affected the use of language in modern times. E-mail is a tool of mass global communication. It is a mode for sending documents ranging from just one single sentence greeting, to reports, newsletters, announcements and academic materials of several pages. E-mail combines the characteristics of both speaking and writing. Cairncross (2000) identifies some advantages of e-mail.
(a) the users do not need to be logged on when somebody writes them;
(b) it is flexible, users can attach documents, such as pictures, songs,
and so forth;
(c) it can be forwarded to many users at the same time;
(d) the attenuation of personal information, such as appearance, stuttering, shyness allows greater freedom of self-expression.
E-mail users are learning new registers – specific words – daily. Such words may be existing English words, whose meanings have been extended within the context of Internet communication, e.g.: junk, surf, chat, box, file, HTML, etc.
3.1.3 Mobile Telephoning
Mobile telephoning is also a relatively new media of communication. Its major advantage over the fixed telephoning is that the phone users can be reached anywhere they are where there is network connection. Mobile telephoning is an expensive means of communicating all over the world, so users have devised means of ensuring they do not spend too much time using it. Mobile telephoning is changing the face of communication as users are getting farther from one another in communicating than they used to be in the past.
SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
i. Collect 50 text messages and identify the linguistic devices used
in shortening the messages.
ii. Identify 25 acronyms used in computer technology and supply
their full meanings
3.2 Technologically-Mediated Discourse and the Challenges to Communication in the Modern Age
One of the major challenges that CMC poses for communication is that it makes composing in language more elastic and less rule-governed. Ellipsis, abbreviations and colloquialism are common features of CMC. This as mentioned earlier, has created some concern for teachers of English, especially those in ESL context. The observation that the style of CMC is creeping into formal classroom writing of students may have grave implications for communication in written English.
Another major challenge is how the users will cope with the learning of new vocabulary that is emerging, especially the ones used in text messaging (mostly abbreviations). These expressions are not standardised. Each user creates their own forms, though some forms are fairly common. There is tendency for ambiguity, especially in instances where a form could refer to more than one concept, e.g.: cld may be interpreted as could or cold, since both interpretations are logical. This means that with the kind of fractured language used in CMC, interpreting communication may become more tasking if the forms are not standardised for pedagogical reasons.
CMC is also reducing the social bond that naturally exists between speakers of a language when they interact through speech. Since people can now call rather than see and talk over issues, those who would have been emboldened by the use of face-to-face interaction can hide their real expressions. It encourages anonymity, as people can use the mobile phones for crime and deception.
4.0 CONCLUSION
In the 20th Century, a major breakthrough in communication is achieved through the use of modern technology in communication. This is generally referred to as computer-mediated communication or technology-mediated communication. This has made communication faster and more efficient. The use of SMS, e-mail and mobile telephoning are common in most urban communities all over the world. These forms of technology-mediated-communication have, no doubt , revolutionised the spread of English, because English is their major medium. The revolution is evident in the emerging vocabulary and conventions that are radically different from the ones used in the usual daily communication.
5.0 SUMMARY
This unit examined how technology has been affecting the use of language. We specifically looked at three technology-mediated- language – SMS, e-mail, and mobile telephoning, and also their nature and how they are changing the conventions for language use. Lastly, we examined the challenges posed by these mediated languages to communication
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
1. Explain the concept computer-mediated-communication.
2. Identify some major linguistic devices used in SMS, using adequate examples.
3. Discuss the variables of computer-mediated-communication.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
Awonusi, S. (2004). ‘Little Englishes’ and the Law of Energetics: A Sociolinguistic Study of SMS Text Messages as Register and Discourse.’ In: S. Awonusi & E. A. Babalola. (Eds). The Domestication of English in Nigeria. Lagos: University of Lagos Press.
Bush, C. (2005). ‘Language beyond the text: txt msgs 4 a new gnr8n. ’ The Journal of New Media and Culture, Summer/Fall, Vol.3, Number 2. Retrieved 20th October, 2006, from, http://www.ibiblio.org/nmediac/summer2005/text.html
Cairncross, F. (2000). Death of Distance, How the Communication Revolution will Change our Lives. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Crystal, D. (2001). Language and the Internet. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Thurlow, C. (2004). Generatn nxt? The sociolinguistics of young people’s text-messaging. Discourse Analysis Online. Retrieved October 2, 2004,from:http://extra.shu.ac.uk.daol/articles/vl/a3/thurlow20020 03-paper.html.
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