Researched Argument on Language Change in the Information Age
Introduction
The argumentative essay mainly focuses on how language has undergone series of transformation in the information age. The argument is constructed using resource texts on issues that are related to language change in the information age. English language has changed considerably over the past centuries. It is a language that parents teach their kids and teachers as well teach learners the language. English has turned out to be a language of instructions in most schools. This has ensured continuity of the language from one generation to another. English, like the other languages world over, has evolved rapidly for variety of reasons (Millward & Hayes, 32). The constant shift in the language has been as result of social, economic and political pressures. Invasions, colonization and migration are some of the elements that have led to transformation of English as a language.
The thesis of the essay presents an argument on the realism and legitimacy of unrelenting transformation that has characterized English language over the years. The argument is anchored by sound, rhetorically effective and stylistically engaging facts that are either for or against the thesis statement. Technological changes have a share of the transformation the language has undergone in the recent past resulting into negative and positive upshots in equal measures (Millward & Hayes, 32).
How has the English language changed historically?
Emerging technologies have fundamentally lad to change in English language over the year. Industries, products and experiences people have gone through around the world simply require new words. Things like cell phones, the internet, and plastics, to name just a few, did not exist in the 15th or even 16th century. Thus, there was a need to invent new words that to use to recognize such phenomena. William Shakespeare also has a considerable share of the changes that English as a language has gone through over the years. He is believed to have introduced several words and phrases to the language. These are mainly manifested in the style he uses the language through his famous sonnets and plays.
His phrases which are mainly idioms, and vocabularies are still applied up to date by modern writers and in the various teaching curriculums across the globe. Whenever people interact with one another, they pick up words and phrases which when used for a long time becomes acceptable in the language. This explains the reason to why English like many other languages spoken on earth have undergone many changes. English is one of the key world languages that have continuously changed in the past 1500 years since the period of Anglo-Saxon invaders. Today, about 350 million English speakers all over the world who uses the language as first language and another 500 million use it as second language.
What are some of the features of text messaging, Facebook and Twitter updates, and emails that differ from one another and from Standard Written English?
Text messages, Face book updates and twitter posts differ inherently from the Standard English language in the manner in which they are abbreviated to offer similar meaning to an English term. Some of these of these texts update and posts affect how the Queen’s language is viewed in the contemporary world. The terms used in text messages, facebook/twitter posts and updates, are usually abbreviated or incorporate figures or symbols in order to convey the intended information in relation to the original English language. Some of the examples of texts update or posts that differ from English vocabularies/terms include the use of the letter “u” to mean “you”, the overuse of the term “lol” and “k” in text messages and facebook/twitter posts to mean “laugh out loud” and “OK” respectively. These symbols illustrate the course the language has taken to serve the demands of the social world. This is a show of creativity in the world of humanity.
Other terms, which have been given different meanings in text messages and social networking platforms such as face book and twitter, include “FYI” to act as an abbreviation for the phrase “for your information”. The term“Btw” is used to mean “by the way”. “ROTFL” is also used in the posts or updates as a short form for the phrase “Rolling on the floor laughing”. The other term commonly used in text messages and post is “tXt” to refer to the term text. “Sum1” is also used to mean someone in the original English language. Tspoons in text messages or facebook/twitter posts mean teaspoons, “ur” to stand for your and xept to offer similar meaning as except. An example of a text message that clearly depicts a change from the original English language is, “I shall b prepard @ all times 2 tXt & RCV”.
The other terms used in text messages or facebook/twitter posts and updates include “a ninglish” to mean an English, abbrev8 to mean abbreviate, b4 to represent before, @ to stand for the term at, the figure 2 is often used to represent the term to, and “hi-ly” to represent highly in a text or a post. The term hart is also offered a new meaning to act as heart in a text or Facebook posts/updates. Face2face is also used in text to refer to the phrase face-to-face. Term such as ‘over’ is shortened in the posts/texts to appear as ova. ‘Parents’ is also shortened to appear as parence. Othr is a short form for the word other usually applied in text messages or facebook/twitter posts or updates. “Langwij” is often used to represent language. In order to figure out the meaning of these phrases used in text messages or facebook/twitter, one is required to master the language technique.
How have blogs and other online publishing media affected reading?
Recent improvements in technology have brought about new methods of sharing information. Chief amongst these is blogging. Use of blogs in the website has become the new substitute for manual reading. Most people are now shifting to this as a source of information rather than reading of books. Therefore, blogging has significant influence on the reading process. It is through blogging that users are able to research information best. The blogs offer a chance for thorough research to the reader. The content that is in these blogs is well researched information that those who post are people who are totally sure of their sources (Bruns, 91). The blogs also attract people with the same interest and therefore the reader is likely to find views of concurring people. The blogs also offer there reader chance to cite their information. This is a key reason why most people prefer this well researched information than the educational books which offer no opinion from others.
Another way that blogging has improved the reading process is through the interactivity that it offers. In most cases, the blogs have comment boxes where anyone interested can leave their own opinion. This interactivity leads the reader in determining the validity of the information. Any reader with any extra information is free to add it. The different opinions that the readers offer are also hugely beneficial as they may offer new perspectives. This is better than reading where the readers are limited to their own opinions and understanding. Blogging creates a place where the same material that the users struggle with in class can discuss the same material and come up with the best solutions (Bruns, 92). This has created a situation where the readers carry work from school to discuss it within the blogs.
The arguments that blogging is detrimental to the grammar that students have is invalid to some extent. In fact, blogging improves the grammar of the users. This depends mainly on whether the writers use formal language or not. In most educational blogs, there is an emphasis on the use of formal language. The reader is able to learn from the grammar that other people have and thus create better grammar. The constructive feedback that the other readers give to the writer helps a lot in improving their skills and diction. Blogging has a constructive impact in the interpretation that readers have on the subject (Bruns, 94). A reader is able to construe a message from the information that other people offer than from the conventional published material. Conclusively, blogging has a tremendously pivotal role in reading and thus the change should be more than welcome in the society.
The history of printed books, magazines, and journals
In the ancient time, when the art of writing had not been introduced, the word of mouth and signs were used to relay, keep, or communicate message. When the art was discovered, any material that could be used for writing was virtually exploited; ranging from clay, stone, barks of trees, and even meal sheets (Oswald 56). The initial writings were mainly encryptions and not use of alphabets as today. The use of alphabets originated from Egypt. The printing art began several years before the art of writing was discovered. The difference is the level of technology that existed there before. The discovery of the printing press greatly changed the quality of printed works. The frequency of producing these works was also increased. This provided a good platform for the development of books, journals, and magazines.
Books came into use in the early fifteenth century, when simple sheets of paper were used. Several printed works have been cited to present evidence of the introduction of the use of papers for writing. Any written, printed, and fastened together at sheets of paper make a book. A journal is a scholarly printed document, usually published on a regular basis, like daily, weekly or monthly. The journal may contain variant topics of discussion, such as business, education, or politics. Magazines are publications released regularly and contain differing ideas and content.
The technology used to print the books, journals, and magazine is more or less the same. The introduction of the printing machines greatly revolutionized the production of these works. The typewriters and the printing machines have played a key role in the advancement of this very significant achievement (Oswald 298). These printed works immensely contributed to the advancement of the education and communication sectors. The scholars published their educative information in these printings, making it easy for the students to get access to information. The press used the magazines to convey important news stories to the people. The late introduction of the journals cannot go unnoticed. These documents have improved the business sector a great deal. The advertisements made in the magazines and journals marketed the business and their products.
However, the development of these very important sources of information and modes of communication has had its share of setbacks. Various factors did not favor the exploration of this amazing work. The development and advancement of the printing press technology really slowed down the whole process. The tedious modes of typewriters that were used in the early stages are such factors. The government policies also presented a key challenge to their development (Oswald 343). The lack of freedom of the press to present its views was a major such factor. Nevertheless, with the advanced technology and democratic world with rights of every person recognized have the printing is much easier.
Is there a special rhetoric for social media?
Special rhetoric is an art that is characterized by undue use of exaggeration or even display. It is always meant to improve a facility or equipment (Millward & Hayes, 32).
Works Cited
David Crystal. Text Messages: Texting. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.
Millward, Celia M, and Mary Hayes. A Biography of the English Language. Boston, Mass: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
Oswald, John C. A History of Printing: Its Development Through Five Hundred Years. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1928. Print.
Bruns, Axel. Uses of Blogs. New York: Lang, 2006. Print
Newson, Alex, Deryck Houghton, and Justin Patten. Blogging and Other Social Media: Exploiting the Technology and Protecting the Enterprise. Farnham, Surrey: Gower, 2009. Print.
