Electronic discourse : on speech and writing on the Internet

Abstract: The advancement of computer-mediated language towards the rapidity and nature of spoken language raises the question whether electronic communication is written or oral discourse. This essay focuses on how electronic discourse is manifested in two major communication modes on the Internet - asynchronous and synchronous typing - and how it relates to traditional notions of written and oral discourse. To substantiate the discussion, examples from authentic electronic communication are included and the viewpoint in the study of them is essentially sociolinguistic. The study also renders an introduction to new terminology that has emerged over the years of linguistic interaction on the Internet and throws some light on how the electronic era relates to other periods of human communication. The conclusion of the study is that electronic discourse is neither writing nor speech, but rather written speech or spoken writing, or something unique in the history of human discourse. Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to? (Clarence Darrow)