Written language across devices - How device affordances influence linguistic variation

The book explores written language across communication device types. Challenging the current norm of a "device-neutral" approach, it argues that the physical device (smartphone, computer) plays a complex role in language use, similar to other contextual factors. A three-part computational sociolinguistic study is used to investigate the variation of nineteen microlinguistic features (message length, capitalisation, acronyms, emoji, etc.) across device types, using two corpora of Twitter/X and Discord messages. The work develops an innovative approach for investigating the influence of technology on written language, highlighting the value of affordances over technological determinism.

List of contents

Introduction.-Technology and communication: Interdisciplinary discourses.-The influence of communication device on language: Developing a framework Methodology.- Device affordances and microlinguistic features.- Device affordances and contextual factors.- Case studies: Device, features, context, and individuals.- Discussion and conclusion.- References.

Summary

The book explores written language across communication device types. Challenging the current norm of a "device-neutral" approach, it argues that the physical device (smartphone, computer) plays a complex role in language use, similar to other contextual factors. A three-part computational sociolinguistic study is used to investigate the variation of nineteen microlinguistic features (message length, capitalisation, acronyms, emoji, etc.) across device types, using two corpora of Twitter/X and Discord messages. The work develops an innovative approach for investigating the influence of technology on written language, highlighting the value of affordances over technological determinism.

Product details

• Authors: Jenia Yudytska, Yevgeniya Yudytska
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English, German
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 22.08.2025
• EAN: 9783662716168
• ISBN: 978-3-662-71616-8
• No. of pages: 400
• Illustrations: Approx. 400 p.
• Series: Digitale Linguistik
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; Sprachwissenschaft, Linguistik, Computer, Smartphone, Sociolinguistics, Applied Linguistics, Digitally mediated Communication, language use on Discord, audience design, microlinguistic features, graphic features, polymedia, language use on Twitter/X, communication device, technological affordances, computational sociolinguistics, computer mediated communication