Electronic Language
Between 1989 and 1996 I studied independently at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, towards a PhD. The study focussed on the new skill required in the age of large-scale networks and meaning making using computers. We followed Ong and others to suggest that because of computer communication skills of literacy as we have known them for some thousands of years are about to change.
Through my study, I concluded that there would be a new skill required. Computer technology now demands that people acquire the skill of "technacy" which subsumes literacy and oracy, the previously required skills. For me, you, the reader, technacy is required of those who are to participate in the new dominant form of human communication. Electronic Language is the third form of language following spoken language and written language.
The skills of spoken language (oracy) were demanded of those who required to have a voice and be heard in society in early days of human organization. At the time of Plato, the new skill that was just taking over due to the fact that the dominant form of communication was written language was literacy. Now, due to computer communication dominating sofiety in nearly every aspect, we required to be technate -- that is, acquire the skills of technacy.
Follow these links to read the entire dissertation on this subject.
Electronic Language
Electronic Table of Contents
by Dr Elwyn Jenkins
2 Nature of Electronic Language
3 Electronic Cultural Activities
4 Modelling Electronic Language
5 Functions in Electronic Language
Last update: 20/12/2002; 9:01:22 AM .
