Interface between Language and Technology: Destabilising Standards

Abstract

 

Technology is today considered to be an enabler by most of us because of the ease with which we can do most of our work. But when it comes to academics and that too English language, it is technology which has caused the most serious damage as it has destabilising the established norms of the language. Keeping this as the focal point the paper has been broadly divided into three parts. The first one focuses on providing a brief background of the status of English before advancements in technology picked up pace. This is followed by a description of the technological changes that came up in the past couple of decades through the media, the internet, the mobile and computer gaming and influenced English, leading to a spurt in the number of users. This widespread use of language and language user has side lined the prescriptive grammar. English language users, especially in the second language and foreign language situation have become more careless, more carefree and more audacious. In a commercially governed world this has resulted into orthographical, syntactical and lexical innovations and code mixing to catch the attention of English readers, viewers, listeners and consumers. After citing the reasons for these distortions and innovations the paper concludes by suggesting the need to adapt according to the changing scenario and ensure sticking to standards along with being aware of the new standards created by technology. Suggestion has also been given about the future scope of study in this area.

Keywords

• technology, standards, language, destabilising, distortions, innovations, syntax, lexis, semantics, orthography

References

1. Baker, A. (8 October 2012) “The revolution will be puppetized.” Time., 46.
2. Balshki, K and Sophie Nichol. (2005) “Game geeks goss: linguistic creativity in young males within an online university forum.” Australian journal of emerging technologies and society, 81-86.
3. Bax, S. (2003) “CALL – past, present and future.” System. Vol. 31. No 1., 13-28.
4. Boyd, D M & Nicole B Ellison. (2008) “Social networking sites: definition, history and scholarship.” Journal of computer – mediated communication 13, 210-230.
5. Crystal, D. (2000) Language death. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press. ---. (1997) English as a global language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
6. Figura, K and H Jarvis. (2007) “Computer-based materials: A study of learner autonomy and strategies.” System. Vol. 35. No 4., 448-468.
7. Kukulska_H, A. (2009) “Will mobile learning change language learning?” ReCALL. Vol 21. No 2., 157-165.
8. Lata, P, Devika & G S Chauhan. (2012) Interfacing ELT with culture and technology direction for new classroom. New Delhi: Jain Brothers.

9. Parry, P. (28 July 2010) “The impact of technology on the English language.” English language expert.com. Retrieved on 08 October, 2013
10. Paton, G. (2012). “Over-reliance on technology is undermining spelling skills.” The Telegraph. Retrieved on 22 April 2014. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9280203/Over-reliance-on- technology-is-undermining-spelling-skills.html
11. Romaine, S. (1995). Bilingualism. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers
12. Times News Network. (17 October 2013) The Times of India, Jaipur.
13. Wright, Lindsey. (6 July 2011) “The impact of technology on college writing.” Retrieved on 23 April 2014.
14. https://www.learnboost.com/blog/the-impact-of-technology-on-college- writing/