The Language of the Masses (of Online Media)

Abstract

This paper aims to counter the belief that the language used in
technology-based mass media is rapidly becoming a homogenous
entity. Through a review of existing literature on web-based language
complemented with folk examples, this paper illustrates that linguistic
diversity is fostered in technology-based mass media in two ways.
Firstly, online media creates new virtual communities of practice that
develop their own linguistic variants. Secondly, technology-based
media, such as social media, allows individuals to transcribe local
variants of spoken language as markers of identity, thereby
transferring offline linguistic variation online. Once it is established
that linguistic variation is maintained in online linguistic forms,
Squires's theory of enregistrement is used to explain the existence of
the assumption that online languages change faster than offline
languages. This theory, in conjunction with previous research on the
relationships between spoken language and virtual language in a set
community of practice, is then applied to counter the assumption and
illustrate that technology-based mass media do not increase the speed
of language change.