In Language Online, David Barton and Carmen Lee investigate the impact of the online world on the study of language.
The effects of language use in the digital world can be seen in every aspect of language study, and new ways of researching the field are needed. In this book the authors look at language online from a variety of perspectives, providing a solid theoretical grounding, an outline of key concepts, and practical guidance on doing research.
Chapters cover topical issues including the relation between online language and multilingualism, identity, education and multimodality, then conclude by looking at how to carry out research into online language use. Throughout the book many examples are given, from a variety of digital platforms, and a number of different languages, including Chinese and English.
Written in a clear and accessible style, this is a vital read for anyone new to studying online language and an essential textbook for undergraduates and postgraduates working in the areas of new media, literacy and multimodality within language and linguistics courses.
"Language Online introduces the reader to key concepts and themes in the study of digital language and discourse: multilingualism and linguistic diversity, self-presentation and stance-taking, language ideologies and learning. The authors offer clear definitions, a rich set of examples, valuable suggestions on research methodology and innovative insights into their own interpretations. Language Online achieves a remarkably good balance between cutting-edge research and reader-friendliness."
- Jannis Androutsopoulos, University of Hamburg, Germany
"Using a methodology grounded in both linguistics and digital literacies, Barton and Lee provide a valuable introduction to studying language online. They also carefully define terms and concepts that are used in both of these fields and are central to the study of language online--text and practices, among others…This volume will interest those who want to understand how language is changing as a result of new technologies and those pursuing their own research into language use online."
- A. M Laflen, Marist College, USA in CHOICE
1. Language in the Digital World 2. Ten Reasons Why Studying the Online World is Crucial for Understanding Language 3. Acting in a Textually-Mediated Social World 4. Hello! Bonjour! Ciao! Hola! Guten Tag!: Deploying Linguistic Resources Online 5. Taking up the Affordances of Multiple Languages 6. ‘This is Me’: Writing the Self Online 7. Stance-taking through Language and Image 8. ‘My English is so poor’: Talking about Language Online 9. Everyday Learning Online 10. Language Online as New Vernacular Practices 11. Language Online and Education 12. Researching Language Online 13. Flows of Language Online and Offline. Appendices