The Language of Electronic

CommunicationIts Implications for

TEFL

The Language of Electronic

CommunicationIts Implications for

TEFL

EUROCALL 2010Averianova Irina

Nagoya University of Business, Japan

EUROCALL 2010Averianova Irina

Nagoya University of Business, Japan

Electronically-Mediated Communication (EMC)

Electronically-Mediated Communication (EMC)

Electronic Mail (e-mail) Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Multiple Users Domains (MUDs) NewsgroupsBlogsOther interactive platforms (Twitter,

Second Life; FaceBook, etc)SMS

Electronic Mail (e-mail) Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Multiple Users Domains (MUDs) NewsgroupsBlogsOther interactive platforms (Twitter,

Second Life; FaceBook, etc)SMS

Electronically-Mediated Communication (EMC)

Electronically-Mediated Communication (EMC)

540 million people use the NetEvery 6th person on earth

English is the dominant language of electronic communication

In 2010, non-native speakers using the Internet have outnumbered native speakers

Significant expansion of EMC in TEFL

540 million people use the NetEvery 6th person on earth

English is the dominant language of electronic communication

In 2010, non-native speakers using the Internet have outnumbered native speakers

Significant expansion of EMC in TEFL

EMC in EFL ClassroomEMC in EFL Classroom

ENHANCED MOTIVATION AND AUTONOMY OF LEARNERS

Authenticity Interactivity Security: a) psychological b) linguistic

ENHANCED MOTIVATION AND AUTONOMY OF LEARNERS

Authenticity Interactivity Security: a) psychological b) linguistic

EMC in EFL ClassroomEMC in EFL Classroom

Email communicationBlog exchange Chat room participation FaceBook interactionJoint projectsAcademic partnershipsSMS exchange and texting as

learning activities

Email communicationBlog exchange Chat room participation FaceBook interactionJoint projectsAcademic partnershipsSMS exchange and texting as

learning activities

Electronic Discourse: Written Speech

Spoken Writing

Electronic Discourse: Written Speech

Spoken Writing(Hybrid, A new computer style, Internet

Slang, Internet language, Net speak, Chat Room Shorthand, Tech-talk, Nu English)

DISCURSIVE DRIVES Economy of writing

Maintenance of orality in the absence of direct auditory interaction

Linguistic relaxation

(Hybrid, A new computer style, Internet Slang, Internet language, Net speak, Chat Room Shorthand, Tech-talk, Nu English)

DISCURSIVE DRIVES Economy of writing

Maintenance of orality in the absence of direct auditory interaction

Linguistic relaxation

Electronic DiscourseElectronic Discourse

ABBREVIATION Initialisms: ASAP, TTYT, ISTM,

KISS, PICNIC, HAND, POS, TUL Clippings: Pic, Peeps, Attn Homophonic coinages, or

logograms: 2dA, 2u2, UC, Qt, Y

ABBREVIATION Initialisms: ASAP, TTYT, ISTM,

KISS, PICNIC, HAND, POS, TUL Clippings: Pic, Peeps, Attn Homophonic coinages, or

logograms: 2dA, 2u2, UC, Qt, Y

Electronic DiscourseElectronic Discourse

SIMPLIFIED SYNTAX

Incomplete sentences: Need 2 go; been watching ya

“Contracted” contractions: dont, whats, thats

SIMPLIFIED SYNTAX

Incomplete sentences: Need 2 go; been watching ya

“Contracted” contractions: dont, whats, thats

Electronic DiscourseElectronic Discourse

IRREGULAR CAPITALIZATION

Lower case letters only - whispering: can you remember what we sposed to be doing today???

Upper case letters only - shouting: WHYS NOBODY DO NOTHING!!!!!!!

Mixed case - emphasis: did I just see GOD???

IRREGULAR CAPITALIZATION

Lower case letters only - whispering: can you remember what we sposed to be doing today???

Upper case letters only - shouting: WHYS NOBODY DO NOTHING!!!!!!!

Mixed case - emphasis: did I just see GOD???

Electronic DiscourseElectronic Discourse

EMOTICONS(SMILEGLYPHS, SMILEYS)

:-) “smile” :’-( “crying” :-O “surprise, shock” :-* “kiss” :-D “laughing” :-@ “screaming”>:-O “angry/yelling >:-( “angry/grumpy” 

EMOTICONS(SMILEGLYPHS, SMILEYS)

:-) “smile” :’-( “crying” :-O “surprise, shock” :-* “kiss” :-D “laughing” :-@ “screaming”>:-O “angry/yelling >:-( “angry/grumpy” 

EMC in EFL ClassroomEMC in EFL Classroom

MAJOR PROBLEM: Excessive use/abuse of peculiarities

of electronic discourse Initial enthusiasm Emulation Limited language aptitude

(appeased by economy of writing and linguistic relaxation)

Insufficient code-switching skills

MAJOR PROBLEM: Excessive use/abuse of peculiarities

of electronic discourse Initial enthusiasm Emulation Limited language aptitude

(appeased by economy of writing and linguistic relaxation)

Insufficient code-switching skills

EMC in EFL ClassroomEMC in EFL Classroom

Excessive use/abuse of peculiarities of electronic

discourse results in: Exclusion Flaming Hostile & insulting reactionGeneral lack of comprehensibilityNon-standard language in the

academic context

Excessive use/abuse of peculiarities of electronic

discourse results in: Exclusion Flaming Hostile & insulting reactionGeneral lack of comprehensibilityNon-standard language in the

academic context

Lack of comprehensibility in Email

Lack of comprehensibility in Email

“… I really consider the Japanese 2B very different from us but hope U tell me

more about it l8R. I/m looking forward to ur reply!!

TCOY!!! :-) KIT!!:-) LTTA!!!”

“… I really consider the Japanese 2B very different from us but hope U tell me

more about it l8R. I/m looking forward to ur reply!!

TCOY!!! :-) KIT!!:-) LTTA!!!”

Texting in academic writing)

Texting in academic writing)

My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we used 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 :- kids FTF. ILNY, it's a gr8 plc

(In translation: "My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York. It's a great place.") (BBC News, 4 March, 2003)

My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we used 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 :- kids FTF. ILNY, it's a gr8 plc

(In translation: "My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York. It's a great place.") (BBC News, 4 March, 2003)

Texting in academic writing

Texting in academic writing

xs cmpnstn fnds wl b nvstd 4 srvvng fmly mmbrs

(In translation: “Excess compensation funds will be invested for surviving family members.”) (I. Berman, 2006)

xs cmpnstn fnds wl b nvstd 4 srvvng fmly mmbrs

(In translation: “Excess compensation funds will be invested for surviving family members.”) (I. Berman, 2006)

Texting in academic writing

Texting in academic writing

Common disclaimer phrases (called “parantheticals”) ofn contract in2 ACRONYMS – they tend to occur @ certain points in a sentence which can facilitate decoding. Some e.g.s.: IMHO – In my humble/honest opinion…

Lol, btw, b/c (N. Baron 2009)

@, $, &

Common disclaimer phrases (called “parantheticals”) ofn contract in2 ACRONYMS – they tend to occur @ certain points in a sentence which can facilitate decoding. Some e.g.s.: IMHO – In my humble/honest opinion…

Lol, btw, b/c (N. Baron 2009)

@, $, &

Texting – Other problemsTexting – Other problems Cheating2002 - University of Maryland, College

Park, 12 students2002 - Hitotsubashi University, 26

students2004 - England, 287 school and college

students

Multitasking

Disruption

Cheating2002 - University of Maryland, College

Park, 12 students2002 - Hitotsubashi University, 26

students2004 - England, 287 school and college

students

Multitasking

Disruption

Attitude – What teachers teach about EMC

Attitude – What teachers teach about EMC

Cultural awareness Mutual courtesy Technical conventions of writing

in the NetBUT Linguistic conventions of

electronic discourse are generally either not acknowledged or intentionally neglected

Cultural awareness Mutual courtesy Technical conventions of writing

in the NetBUT Linguistic conventions of

electronic discourse are generally either not acknowledged or intentionally neglected

EMC in EFL ClassroomEMC in EFL Classroom

ROLE OF THE TEACHER Introduce the fundamentals of

netiquette Ensure the appropriate way of

writing in the Net Provide the netiquette

troubleshooting:a) Proactive

b) Reactive

ROLE OF THE TEACHER Introduce the fundamentals of

netiquette Ensure the appropriate way of

writing in the Net Provide the netiquette

troubleshooting:a) Proactive

b) Reactive

EMC – Implications for TEFL

EMC – Implications for TEFL

Code-switching Knowledge of traditional writing

conventions Communicative awareness Texting etiquette

Differentiation between creativity and normative language use

Code-switching Knowledge of traditional writing

conventions Communicative awareness Texting etiquette

Differentiation between creativity and normative language use

Electronic Communication and TEFL

Electronic Communication and TEFL

ROLE OF THE TEACHER

Facilitate adequate understanding between the participants of EMC

Ensure acquisition ofcomprehensive language competence within any communicational framework

Thank you!

ROLE OF THE TEACHER

Facilitate adequate understanding between the participants of EMC

Ensure acquisition ofcomprehensive language competence within any communicational framework

Thank you!