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How Technology Influences Language

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About this listen

To be human in today’s world means that you engage in constant linguistic interactions with some form of technology, from your smart phone to your refrigerator. That’s not as new a trend as you might think.

Language has shaped - and been shaped by - some of our world’s most significant communication technologies. Our current language bears the marks of millennia of interaction between humans and our technologies, beginning with the very first primitive writing systems and moving into the age of the printing press, the telegraph, and the typewriter.

Yet, at no other point in our history have technology and language been so enmeshed. Technology uses language to “communicate” a steady stream of information to us, not to mention helping us to communicate with each other.

By studying and analyzing the relationship between humans and their technology, we begin to understand what makes our unique form of communication, which we call language, unique to humans. We learn about who we are today in the 21st century and how we became these complicated, modern-day technolinguistic beings.

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All stars
Most relevant
Fantastic narration, wealth of interesting information and came away from it feeling like I learnt a lot of valuable stuff

Really enjoyed this course!

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When I got the course I thought it was mainly about technology, so I was surprised to find that ut actually was a course on linguistics. Nevertheless, I found the content intriguing, interesting and informative. Mr. Pfrehm presented it in an entertaining manner and I would recommend it to anyone interested in languages and their development with respect to technological advancement.

very interesting

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Learnt a lot ! Great pace & voice , I'd like to listen to it again

Superb!

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This is not written for you or me, this is written by the author for himself, so he can pat himself on the shoulder and think "I am clever".

The little tidbits of 'actually' are unnecessary and every time you think he'll say something interesting it is his opportunity to be smug.

I desperately want to learn about this subject but I can't stand the writing.

Did not finish. Life is too short to be annoyed so much by a book.

Insufferable

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The content isn't particularly great, but the worst thing about it by far is the presentation. The attempts at being relatable need to go far, far away. The whole thing seems completely inauthentic. A person trying way too hard to write something to engage people. When what will actually engage people is just strong content. If you are not naturally engaging or funny, that's fine. Lean on your strengths. Don't pretend to be someone you're not.

Also I really didn't like when he said something like "you'll have to forgive me for butchering the pronunciation of these Chinese names". No. A simple "I apologize if I have pronounced these incorrectly" is at least more respectful no?

Also, who is his imagined audience here? A class full of 8 year olds? Why does he seem to worry that if things get too "heavy" or "egghead" etc.. then people are going to not be able to follow? I can't tell if he just doesn't have anything genuinely interesting to say or if he's purposely trying to dumb things down, resulting in a completely pointless book with zero substance.

How Technology Influences Language

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