People are free to mimic any number of sounds that they choose

The internet is a tool. It amuses me that people think it will bring dysfunction to the english language, little realizing that any dysfunction that it appears to show or exacerbate is something that was already there, or symptomatic of trends and discourses that simply used to be less visible.

People who need to use the internet formally will do so, and continue along this line.
People who engage in more casual discourse will - as a rule - be much less controlled and formal about their speech.

It is not the job of the internet to teach prescriptive grammar - although it can potentially teach or inform on any number of things. Parents, educators, and people in general will have to teach, or perhaps inform, what kind of language is and is not considered acceptable.

I don't use webspeak, but I see no problem with people lol-ing and rofl-ing.
The internet is a medium of communication, and we cannot, and should not attempt to control how people communicate. I'm just happy that people can, and are, and will continue to do so.

Computer Mediated Lingo

Computer mediated communication is now imperative with the transition into the digital age. A single person can network with numerous social communities from the comforts of his/her home--this is a powerful era we live in. However, communicating via CMC has changed language. I would like to note that CMC is not the issue at hand. CMC refers to communication between two computer mediated formats, such as instant messaging, and emails. The issue at hand is the style that has emerged from CMC, which I would like to call computer mediated lingo (CML). Abbreviating and short-handing words have become a prominent style among the Internet generation. This is the issue that VanKooten raises in her video, that CML is essentially degrading our language.

How can we resolve this issue? Context is the answer to everything, even to the ultimate question of life and the universe--42 is really a terrible answer. I personally believe that CML is quite alright, but we must be aware of the context. And we must be aware of our audience. So I propose that students should be taught, or at least made aware of the context in which CML is suitable. Wat do u thnk bout that?

The Degredation of Language

I believe computer mediated communication is definitely a negative influence on the English language. I say this, and most would vehemently disagree by arguing that CMC language differs from standard English and, thus, should be praised as a different language altogether. I am also a proponent for this particular stance but only under certain circumstances. CMC language needs only to exist in a computerized/technological context. My problem with CMC resides in its application and acceptance outside of this context. Society focuses heavily on technology and computerized communication but fails to address that it is only within these contexts where CMC usage is appropriate. Look at high school classrooms for example. Students in English classrooms are texting abbreviations like "lol" and "ttyl" as well as misspelled words like "wat" and "nite" while they are sitting through lessons on English grammar. CMC cannot be eliminated from the students' minds; therefore, it seems almost mandatory that these issues be addressed in the classroom in order to define the appropriate and inappropriate contexts for CMC language usage.

The most striking feature of VanKooten's video for me was the visual of the two individuals conversing face-to-face. This image made me consider that not only that the language used in conversing changed but that the medium in which it occurs has also shifted. I feel that the rise of computer mediated communication is bittersweet. The benefits seem endless - quickness, efficiency, availability. The drawbacks resonate as more important and influential on society. I feel lack of physical, in-person interpersonal contact is necessary to develop social skills, and I believe it is a more meaningful way to communicate as well. This blog is a great tool to use, but I would much prefer to be discussing these ideas in the classroom with others.

Communication in Technology

One of the main characteristic that separates electronic text from other forms of language is its ability to be accessed and understood very quickly. This is the main factor that makes a lot of the language in computer mediated communication degraded; it is shortened and simplified for immediacy. This form of communication has its costs and benefits. It is very useful to communicate quickly and informally. On the other hand, because the language is degraded and simplified, complicated ideas can't be communicated as well. This is where CMC has its downfall and is why people need to continue to learn the more formal forms of language.

Anyone Can Be an Author

A point that is brought up towards the beginning of the video is that with blogs and websites, anyone can be an author. You don't need to be published to have your words and thoughts read by millions. This has its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages are that people who are not very educated on a subject can still act like they do. Wikipedia is a good example. People without credentials are trusted as presenting facts. Grammatically this can include mistakes that are obvious and embarrassing or more subtle. There are advantages too to web publishing. The hoops of a publisher are avoided completely. You don't have to have an editor mess with what you are trying to say. Also, the expenses are avoided for the reader. We can read blogs about cooking instead of going and buying the cookbook. I think this is an interesting change in published text. I look forward to seeing where it takes us.

CMC Promotes "Linguistic Whateverism"

One of the issues that VanKooten raises in her video is the idea that Computer Mediated Communication promotes “linguistic whateverism.” I agree that people can be careless about their writing sometimes, but I also think that most people can discern when more formal language should be used. I don’t think there is any harm in using improper language while chatting with friends on the internet or sending text messages. It is the same idea as speaking casually to friends while face-to-face. It becomes a problem when people cannot separate the two kinds of language, and start to use informal writing in situations where they should be using formal writing. Perhaps the group that will have the most trouble with this concept is the youth, if they have not yet been taught the vital difference between the two. I think it is the schools that should be teaching this to the young ones to help them become successful in their writing.

Academic writing to CMC ratio is decreasing

I agree that the language used via email, website and text messages are not good grammar. Since students are using these devices more than reviewed papers and textbooks they are losing the ability to produce accurate grammar. I wish there was more emphasis on learning proper grammar in school.
I do agree that text message language is appropriate in some cases. However, there are becoming less and less situations in which people use proper language. People are using computer mediated communication much more. I find to hard to believe that CMC is enhancing the English Language. I feel like it is more cheating its way around a language, by ignore the rules that it does not care to learn. Even programs such as spell check is harming the spelling abilities of computer users. I know that I rely on spell check much more then I should.

Language and Technology Assignment

Crystal VanKooten, a doctoral student in English and Education at the University of Michigan, has created a You-tube video on the influence of technology on language. Please watch the video (just under six minutes long) and respond on your blog to one or more of the issues Van Kooten raises in her video. I especially like her use of music with the images. Crystal VanKooten received her MA from OSU and then taught high school in Oregon for five years before going on for her doctorate. Remember also to respond to the blog posts of others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Mgxhqfdyg