Summary

Jargons and subcultures....

This unit looks at the specialist language surrounding information and communication technology and asks what purposes it serves and for which groups. It introduces ideas about how language can function for reference, in order to get things done, and as social plumage, to show individual and group identity.There is a distinction to be made between jargon for instrumental technical purposes and jargon for social purposes.

Links:

• The Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication An extensive catalogue of journals and papers about the linguistic effect of CMC.
• The Jargon File An analytical dictionary of 'Hacker jargon'.
• The Language of Internet Relay Chat An A-level project looking at the possible presence of antilanguage in IRC.
• BBS at Anandtech Technical jargon use.
• The Psychology of Cyberspace Very large ongoing project analysing the psycholinguistic properties of online communication.
• The Well Online community.
• Netlingo Online dictionary of Internet-related lexis.

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