Computer-Mediated Communication for Linguistics and Literacy: Technology and Natural Language Education Adams B. Bodomo University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong INFORMATION SCIENCE REFERENCE Hershey • New York Director of Editorial Content: Kristin Klinger Senior Managing Editor: Jamie Snavely Assistant Managing Editor: Michael Brehm Publishing Assistant: Sean Woznicki Cover Design: Lisa Tosheff Printed at: Yurchak Printing Inc. Published in the United States of America by Information Science Reference (an imprint of IGI Global) 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey PA 17033 Tel: 717-533-8845 Fax: 717-533-8661 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.igi-global.com/reference Copyright © 2010 by IGI Global. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without written permission from the publisher. Product or company names used in this set are for identification purposes only. Inclusion of the names of the products or companies does not indicate a claim of ownership by IGI Global of the trademark or registered trademark. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bodomo, Adams. Computer-mediated communication for linguistics and literacy : technology and natural language education / by Adams B. Bodomo. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. Summary: “This book investigates the way humans communicate through the medium of information technology gadgets, focusing on the linguistic, literacy and educational aspects of computer-mediated communication”-- Provided by publisher. ISBN 978-1-60566-868-0 (hardcover) -- ISBN 978-1-60566-869-7 (ebook) 1. Telematics. 2. Education-- Computer network resources. I. Title. TK5105.6.B63 2009 384.3--dc22 2009013749 British Cataloguing in Publication Data A Cataloguing in Publication record for this book is available from the British Library. All work contributed to this book is new, previously-unpublished material. The views expressed in this book are those of the authors, but not necessarily of the publisher. Table of Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................vii Preface ................................................................................................................. x Achknowledgment............................................................................................ xix Chapter 1 Definitions and Basic Conceptual Notions ........................................................1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................1 Objectives of the Book .......................................................................................... 3 Foundational Concepts .........................................................................................4 Inter-Relating the Foundational Concepts ........................................................... 7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 8 References ............................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 2 Is Technology Changing the Way We Communicate? .....................................9 Introduction ...........................................................................................................9 ICT Features and Tools .......................................................................................10 Can New Technologies Change Our Language? .................................................11 Acronymy: Shortenings as an Example of New Linguistic Forms ......................14 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 15 References ........................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 3 Digital Literacy: Reading in the Age of ICT................................................... 17 Introduction .........................................................................................................17 Digital Literacy and Digital Libraries ................................................................18 The Case Study ....................................................................................................21 Findings .............................................................................................................. 23 Problems Observed and Measures Proposal ...................................................... 28 Concluding Remarks: The Future of Print Resources ........................................ 31 References ........................................................................................................... 33 Endnotes ..............................................................................................................35 Chapter 4 TeLCU: A Model for Technology-Conditioned Language and Literacy Change ............................................................................................................... 36 Introduction .........................................................................................................36 Theoretical Perspectives ..................................................................................... 39 New Forms of Language .....................................................................................43 New Literacies: Digital Literacy and Multiliteracies .........................................54 Concluding Remarks ...........................................................................................55 References ........................................................................................................... 56 Endnote ............................................................................................................... 59 Chapter 5 Insights from an MSN Corpus .........................................................................60 Introduction .........................................................................................................60 Case Study: Linguistic Features MSN Communication ......................................61 Grammatical Errors ............................................................................................72 Presentation and Description of a Complete MSN Corpus ................................ 76 Discussions and Conclusion ............................................................................... 92 References ........................................................................................................... 93 Endnotes ..............................................................................................................94 Chapter 6 Insights from Mobile Phone Voice Communication ...................................... 95 Introduction .........................................................................................................95 Case Study ...........................................................................................................96 Conclusion and Implications ............................................................................ 105 References ......................................................................................................... 108 Endnotes ............................................................................................................109 Chapter 7 The Grammar of Mobile Phone Written Language .....................................110 Introduction: Technology and Language Change ..............................................110 The Data.............................................................................................................112 Linguistic Features of Mobile Phone Texting in Hong Kong.............................113 A Case Study Instantiating TeLCU ....................................................................118 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 135 References ......................................................................................................... 135 Endnotes ............................................................................................................136 Appendix: The First SMS Corpus ..................................................................... 138 Chapter 8 New Forms of Reading and Writing: Cell Phone Novels ............................ 199 Introduction .......................................................................................................199 Outline Features of the Cell Phone Novel ........................................................ 200 A Survey of Cell Phone Use Among Students ................................................... 207 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 218 References ......................................................................................................... 221 Endnotes ............................................................................................................222 Chapter 9 New Languages, New Literacies and the School Curriculum .....................223 Introduction .......................................................................................................223 Case: