A witty and linguistically informed look at how our digital world is transforming the English language.
Gretchen McCulloch writes about linguistics for a general audience, especially internet language. She was the Resident Linguist at The Toast and has also written for The Washington Post, Slate, Mental Floss, and Grammar Girl. McCulloch has a master's in linguistics from McGill University, runs the blog All Things Linguistic, and cohosts Lingthusiasm, a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics. She lives in Montreal, but also on the internet.
“McCulloch is such a disarming writer—lucid, friendly,
unequivocally excited about her subject—that I began to marvel at
the flexibility of the online language she describes, with its
numerous shades of subtlety.” —The New York Times
“McCulloch’s book is a good start in guiding readers to consider
the wild language of the internet as a thing of wonder—a valuable
feature, not a bug.” —The Wall Street Journal
“[An] effervescent study of how the digital world is transfiguring
English. . . . [McCulloch’s] almost political thesis—the more
voices, the better—rebukes both the élitism of traditional grammar
snobs and the cliquishness of, say, Tumblr. It’s a vision of
language as one way to make room for one another.” —The New
Yorker
“Rather than obsessing about what the internet is doing to
language, [Because Internet] largely focuses on what can be learned
about language from the internet. . . . McCulloch's book is about
the birth of a new medium.” —The Economist
“A well-researched retort to grumpy grammarians who think
technology is turning kids into lazy, inarticulate drivelers.”
—Time
“Lively and wide-ranging” —NPR
“A compelling narrative rich with examples from her own online
activities, a healthy dose of humor, and plenty of cat memes… the
breadth of topics covered—from conversation analysis to meme
culture to the development of texting as we now know it—makes this
book useful, engaging, and enjoyable.” —Science
“Gretchen McCulloch is the internet’s favorite linguist, and this
book is essential reading. Reading her work is like suddenly being
able to see the matrix. She explains the hows and the whys of the
ways we talk online with the deepest empathy, understanding, and
compassion.” —Jonny Sun, author of everyone's a aliebn when ur a
aliebn too
“Sometimes it seems like the internet is a seething brew of
ugliness and misery. So it's nice to remember that, as well as the
lawless drudgery, there are complex human systems that, intentional
or not, create something totally new. Internet linguist (damn!)
Gretchen McCulloch explores the ever-changing language of online.”
—Elle, “30 Best Books to Read this Summer”
“McCulloch lays out the ways in which online lingo, from
emojis to GIFs to acronyms like "lol" and "omg," has become a vital
part of modern communication. It's also an analog window into how
the evolution of digital communication mirrors the shifts in word
usage that have happened over generations.” —Wired, “Must-Read
Books of Summer”
“Part Linguistics 101, part social history of the internet, Because
Internet revels in digital language deconstruction, exploring not
just the evolving language of online informal…More importantly, she
doesn’t just appreciate internet language, she celebrates it.” —The
Ringer
“Gretchen McCulloch's Because Internet is not your English
teacher's grammar guide—not even close. Self-described internet
linguist McCulloch traces how the web has changed the way we
communicate—whether through emoji, lowercase letters. or cat
memes—and makes a compelling, entertaining argument that this
change is good for the English language as a whole.” —Real
Simple
“In prose at once scholarly and user-friendly, McCulloch unpacks
the evolution of language in the digital age, providing a
comprehensive survey of everything from the secret language of
emojis to the appeal of animal memes.” —Esquire
“We know lols, emojis and hashtags are altering our discourse.
Linguist McCulloch counts—and revels in—the ways. Give it to your
favorite stickler.” —People
“English's great strength is its informality and the internet has
created a golden age for studying this flexibility: McCulloch's
lively and delightful survey of these new findings is a must for
anyone who loves language in all its expressive forms.” —Cory
Doctorow
“It doesn't matter if you're baffled by the linguistics of the
internet or you're the first person to share memes with your
friends; this book is so absorbing it will immediately draw you
in.” —PopSugar
“Funny as well as informative. Because Internet just might lead you
to see the internet, and how you (and your kids) use it, in a whole
new way.” —BookPage (starred review)
“A funny and fascinating examination of the evolution of language
in the digital age.” —Publishers Weekly
“An insightful analysis of language and the internet of right now,
in-depth yet accessible to any internet generation.” —Booklist
“A fun read for Internet people of all generations….Recommended for
web and language nerds alike, encompassing illuminating facts on
the origin of acronyms, memes, and digital tone of voice.” —Library
Journal
“Because Internet is a rare gem: a groundbreaking scholarly study
that's also approachable, personable, and funny. McCulloch guides
the reader through the seeming disorder of internet-influenced
communications and deftly contextualizes all of it: memes and gifs,
emoji and emoticons, weird punctuation and no punctuation. Her
enthusiasm for language is matched by her command over the subject;
if you're worried that the internet has killed language,
McCulloch's extensive examination will convince you otherwise.
Because Internet is an absolute unit: a unique linguistic study, a
history of the internet, a how-to, and an encouragement that the
omgs and cat pictures have only brought us closer together.” —Kory
Stamper, author of Word by Word
“Because Internet is the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to
the way informal internet language has evolved and is evolving. Its
historical perspective will illuminate every generation of internet
users: oldies will get a clear picture of what young people are up
to; younglings will discover the origins of their latest linguistic
fashions. Gretchen McCulloch writes with great common sense, an eye
for the apt illustration, an appealing sense of humour, and a real
concern for explanation. She doesn't just describe language trends:
she investigates why they've taken place, and it's her insightful
interpretations that give this book its special appeal.” —David
Crystal, author of Shakespeare’s Words and How Language Works
“Because Internet is a joyful exploration of the newest creative
upswell of English—if you want to understand why you love emoji,
share memes, and don't make a sound when lol-ing, you need this
book!” —Erin McKean, founder of the online dictionary
Wordnik.com
“Gretchen McCulloch has pulled off the feat of answering every
question anyone today of any age has about how the internet has
transformed the way we use language every day. Just try putting
this book down.” —John McWhorter, author of Our Magnificent Bastard
Tongue and Words on the Move
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