A fizzing take on how the internet is transforming language by the resident linguist at Wired. A critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller.
Gretchen McCulloch writes about linguistics for a general audience, especially internet language. She writes the Resident Linguist column at Wired. McCulloch has a master's in linguistics from McGill University, runs the blog All Things Linguistic, and cohosts the Lingthusiasm podcast. She lives in Montreal, but also on the internet. www.gretchenmcculloch.com
Because Internet...illustrates how many of us feel about
English in the online age... It is hard not to be moved by her
McCulloch is an engaging writer who clearly adores her subject *
Sunday Times *
Covers the backstory of how tildes became the punctuation mark for
~whimsy and sarcasm~...and when we started repeating certainnnnn
lettersssssssss for emphasis * Buzzfeed *
A fascinating analysis * Observer *
McCulloch offers a compelling snapshot of a world in flux, from
which readers will learn a lot about language, the internet and
themselves * Financial Times *
In prose at once scholarly and user-friendly, McCulloch unpacks the
evolution of language in the digital age, providing a comprehensive
survey of everything from the secret language of emojis to the
appeal of animal memes. * Esquire *
McCulloch is such a disarming writer - lucid, friendly,
unequivocally excited about her subject * New York Times *
Rather than obsessing about what the internet is doing to language,
[Because Internet] largely focuses on what can be learned
about language from the internet. . . . McCulloch's book is about
the birth of a new medium. * Economist *
McCulloch's book is a good start in guiding readers to consider the
wild language of the internet as a thing of wonder-a valuable
feature, not a bug. * Wall Street Journal *
An effervescent study of how the digital world is transfiguring
English * The New Yorker *
A compelling narrative rich with examples from her own online
activities, a healthy dose of humor, and plenty of cat memes... the
breadth of topics covered-from conversation analysis to meme
culture to the development of texting as we now know it-makes this
book useful, engaging, and enjoyable. * Science *
Sometimes it seems like the internet is a seething brew of ugliness
and misery. So it's nice to remember that, as well as the lawless
drudgery, there are complex human systems that, intentional or not,
create something totally new. Internet linguist (damn!) Gretchen
McCulloch explores the ever-changing language of online. * Elle, 30
Best Books to Read this Summer *
McCulloch offers a compelling snapshot of a world in flux, from
which readers will learn a lot about language, the internet and
themselves * Financial Times *
A well-researched retort to grumpy grammarians who think technology
is turning kids into lazy, inarticulate drivelers. * Time *
Because Internet is the most up-to-date and comprehensive
guide to the way informal internet language has evolved and is
evolving. Its historical perspective will illuminate every
generation of internet users: oldies will get a clear picture of
what young people are up to; younglings will discover the origins
of their latest linguistic fashions. Gretchen McCulloch writes with
great common sense, an eye for the apt illustration, an appealing
sense of humour, and a real concern for explanation. She doesn't
just describe language trends: she investigates why they've taken
place, and it's her insightful interpretations that give this book
its special appeal. * David Crystal *
McCulloch lays out the ways in which online lingo, from emojis to
GIFs to acronyms like 'lol' and 'omg,' has become a vital part of
modern communication. It's also an analog window into how the
evolution of digital communication mirrors the shifts in word usage
that have happened over generations." - * Wired, Must-Read Books of
Summer *
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