Because Internet audiobook cover - Understanding the New Rules of Language

Because Internet

Understanding the New Rules of Language

Gretchen McCulloch

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Technology & the FutureCommunication Skills

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Key Takeaways from Because Internet

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Mind Map

Because Internet
Rise of Informal Writing+
Internet Linguistics+
User Generations+
Typographic Style+
Role of Emoji+
Digital Third Places+
Memes+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
What major shift in communication was brought about by the widespread use of the internet and mobile phones?
  • A. It replaced verbal speaking as the primary mode of human interaction.
  • B. It made raw, informal writing a daily necessity for ordinary people.
  • C. It increased the demand for professional copy editors to review personal messages.
  • D. It eliminated the use of traditional acronyms in formal documents.
Question 2 of 8
According to the linguistic theory discussed in the text, why does the internet supercharge language changes?
  • A. It relies heavily on 'strong ties,' where close family members invent new dialects.
  • B. It forces users to conform to a single, academically approved standard of English.
  • C. It exposes users to many 'weak ties,' bringing them into contact with different ways of speaking.
  • D. It uses algorithms to automatically correct non-standard grammar across all platforms.
Question 3 of 8
Which group of internet users is credited with exerting the greatest influence on the development of internet language due to the 'founder effect'?
  • A. Full Internet People
  • B. Semi Internet People
  • C. Post Internet People
  • D. Old Internet People
Question 4 of 8
How has the function of the period changed in modern chat-style conversations?
  • A. It is now exclusively used to indicate irony or sarcasm.
  • B. It has become a symbol for passive-aggressiveness or annoyance.
  • C. It has completely replaced the use of emojis in formal emails.
  • D. It is used to connect multiple disjointed thoughts into a single message.
Question 5 of 8
What typographical tool gained popularity on the internet to indicate a sarcastic or sing-song tone of voice?
  • A. The inverted exclamation mark
  • B. ALL CAPS
  • C. Sarcasm tildes
  • D. The simple smiley face :-)
Question 6 of 8
In the context of electronic communication, how do emojis function as 'emblem gestures'?
  • A. They provide specific, universally understood physical actions in writing, like a wave or a thumbs-up.
  • B. They are used exclusively to illustrate the context of a message, such as adding a cake to a birthday wish.
  • C. They replace all text-based acronyms to save character space on mobile devices.
  • D. They serve as a digital signature to verify the sender's identity and mood.
Question 7 of 8
How does sociologist Ray Oldenburg's concept of the 'third place' apply to modern internet culture?
  • A. It describes the physical locations, like internet cafes, where people go to log online.
  • B. It represents social media and forums as welcoming social spaces distinct from home and work.
  • C. It refers to the technical infrastructure required to host online communities.
  • D. It signifies the third generation of internet users who grew up with social media as their default.
Question 8 of 8
What is a key social function of internet memes, according to the text?
  • A. They serve as formal educational tools for teaching proper spelling and grammar.
  • B. They are primarily used by 'Semi Internet People' to navigate functional workplace tasks.
  • C. They act as inside jokes that reinforce a sense of belonging within specific subcultures.
  • D. They were invented in the 2000s specifically to replace traditional political cartoons.

Because Internet — Full Chapter Overview

Because Internet Summary & Overview

It’s common knowledge that the internet has profoundly changed society, and Because Internet (2019) looks at one specific and significant change: how online culture has transformed the English language. These blinks show how the web has created new linguistic rules, remixed old ones and democratized writing itself. Along with these shifts, prepare to explore the memes, emoji and demographic makeup of the internet.  

Who Should Listen to Because Internet?

  • Language nerds fascinated by recent changes in English
  • Inflexible grammarians clinging on to past practices
  • Parents consistently baffled by their children’s text messages

About the Author: Gretchen McCulloch

Gretchen McCulloch is an author, journalist and linguist with a special interest in digital culture and internet language. She writes the Resident Linguist column for the magazine Wired, runs a blog called All Things Linguistic and co-produces the podcast Lingthusiasm. This is her first book. 

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