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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