<http://nsc1.neotenylabs.com/posts/7275763>Link
--Posted By johannes to <http://www.monochrom.at/english/2009/12/language-20-or-how-we-change-world-with.htm>monochrom at 12/13/2009 03:43:00 AM
Evelyn will give a talk about language and new forms of communication
at Neoteny Labs Singapore Camp (Sunday, December 13, 2009; 2:30 PM):
The numerous parallels between modern linguistics and computer
science may come as a surprise to the audience and their notion of
language may change significantly. Language is a system of signs and
we adjust it every day. Especially new forms of communication
(Twitter, instant messaging etc.) change the way we perceive and use
language. Many people use the same abbreviations in texting and
instant messaging, and social networking websites. Acronyms, keyboard
symbols and shortened words are often used as methods of abbreviation
in Internet slang. Laccetti, a professor of humanities at Stevens
Institute of Technology and Molsk, criticizes that acronyms,
predicting reduced chances of employment for students who use such
acronyms, stating that, "Unfortunately for these students, their
bosses will not be 'lol' when they read a report that lacks proper
punctuation and grammar, has numerous misspellings, various made-up
words, and silly acronyms." Fondiller and Nerone, in their style
manual, assert that "professional or business communication should
never be careless or poorly constructed" whether one is writing an
electronic mail message or an article for publication, and warn
against the use of smileys and these abbreviations, stating that they
are "no more than e-mail slang and have no place in business communication".
But this is of course a very conservative way to see the subject
matter. This talk is meant to explore the many ways in which speakers
'hack' and re-interpret their language based on the various
definitions of the term 'hacking'.
