Because Internet

Because Internet

by Gretchen McCulloch

We are all aware of the presence that the internet has in our lives. We check social media multiple times a day, instantly turn to Google when we can't answer a question, and especially in 2020 when a lot of us suddenly found ourselves working from home, even our entire business systems can be found on the ever mysterious 'cloud'. Being online has changed the way we socialize, date, work and relax at the weekends - but have you ever stopped to consider how it's affected the way you communicate?

Language is forever changing, and will always naturally develop with society. Looking back to Shakespeare 400 years ago, most of us can just about keep up. But go back a further 200 years to Chaucer, and you're going to struggle unless you have a degree in the subject. Now, with our growing, instant access to different people all around the globe, these developments are happening faster than ever.

Gretchen McCulloch is a linguist with her own podcast, Lingthusiasm, devoted entirely to the subject. In her book, Because Internet, she explores the impact that the internet has had on our language and the way that we use it. It looks into the history of the internet and the different types of users that gradually got on board, before delving into how it's changed the way we interact with friends and strangers alike. Analyzing our typography and vocabulary, Gretchen McCulloch shows us how we chat - and why emojis are actually key to our friendships.

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