Oh, Ms Language Person (or Mr, as the case may be)

Kristen Philipkoski reports in Slate on the Death of Language (or Not):

Some believe the informality of internet-mediated communication is causing the language to deteriorate.

"The prophets of doom emerge every time a new technology influences language, of course -- they gathered when printing was introduced in the 15th century," (David) Crystal said...

(College men) were much more likely to use contractions (in Instant Messages), Baron found. She also noted that women took significantly longer to close IM conversations than males, and males were significantly more likely than females to break utterances into multiple IM transmissions.

...The average number of IM conversations per student at one time was about three, the highest number being 12.

They had multiple conversations, they said, because of time constraints, and also because focusing on just one IM conversation would be "too weird."

I wonder whether Larry Summers would like to comment on that part about college men and women.

No, no, maybe he wouldn't just yet. Another day. After someone else does the research, which surely will not be done at Harvard.


Click here: Wired News: The Web Not the Death of Language

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