In this essay, I will quickly identify the main element features of Netspeak layed out by Crystal and consequently attempt to evaluate his assertion that Netspeak can be classed as a fourth medium. In his book, Language and the Internet, Crystal states, "Netspeak depends on characteristic belonging to both factors of the speech/writing separate" I try to decide whether this is the case or whether it's simply an aggregate of written and spoken characteristics.
To commence his analysis, Crystal first establishes the main element dissimilarities between written and spoken vocabulary and the conditions for each; then applied each to Netspeak with reference to different areas of the internet. Desk 1 illustrates the use of spoken terminology, with Table 2 doing the same for written.
Table 1: Spoken words criteria applied to Netspeak (Crystal, 2006, p. 45)
Web
Blogging
Chatgroups
Virtual worlds
Instant messaging
Time-bound
No
No
Yes, but differently
Yes, but differently
Yes, but differently
Yes
Spontaneous
No
Yes, but restricted
Variable
Yes, but restricted
Yes, but restricted
Yes
Face-to-face
No
No
No
No
No
No, unless camera used
Loosely structured
Variable
Yes
Variable
Yes
Yes
Yes
Socially interactive
No, with increasing options
No, with increasing options
Variable
Yes, but restricted
Yes, but restricted
yes
Immediately revisable
No
No
No
No
No
No
Prosodically rich
No
No
No
No
No
No
A key point towards Crystal's discussion is having less likeness to spoken terms, however some top features of spoken language is present - for example, short constructions, phrasal repetition and looser phrase construction (Crystal, 2006). Nevertheless, there are necessary differences, like the absence of kinesics and proxemics that are essential for expressing personal opinions and attitudes in spoken terms, as well as moderating social relationships to avoid disambiguation. Smileys or emoticons are being used, particularly on cultural media sites, chat categories and in online messaging, in an attempt to replace these language features as without the normal courtesies of spoken vocabulary, online messages may be construed as impolite or offensive. However, the semantic role of emoticons are limited and can result in misunderstanding themselves (Crystal, 2006), especially as they often times appear in different formats.
Further endeavors have been made to replace paralinguistic features in instant messaging or on communal advertising sites like Twitter and Facebook. Exaggerated use of spelling and punctuation, capitals and repeated characters and/or punctuation grades such as, NOOOOO!!!!, aaaaaah and woooooo are all common. Nevertheless, although capable of expressiveness, the number of interpretation from these exaggerations is limited to emphasis, delight and puzzlement. (Crystal, 2006)
Spontaneity is probably the most obvious differentiation between spoken terms and Netspeak. A web page is never spontaneous as it is written, released, and then can be viewed years later. If articles from a web based magazine, or a blog, were seen, it could not be uncommon for said article to be a couple of years old. In terms of written terminology also, it might have been edited, using its content updated, layout altered or, if it is one of the larger magazines, its advertising sponsor may have improved. Articles on the Guardian website for example might have been written in 2007, yet been modified in 2011 to be highly relevant to current affairs. During these 4 years, the Guardian may have altered their sponsor from 02 to Hilton Hotels so the adverts down the side will have altered too, and so on. Whilst these changes will have been made online, the same article branded in the Guardian publication in 2007 will stay un-edited in print form.
Even instant messaging lacks the spontaneity of conversation; a face-to-face discussion normally operates at 5 to 6 syllables a second, instant messaging however, must include time for the receiver to learn and type their reply. An email could take even longer to react - months, although unconventional, is not impossible.
Table 2: Written words criteria put on Netspeak (Crystal, 2006, p. 47)
Web
Blogging
Chatgroups
Virtual worlds
Instant messaging
Space-bound
Yes, with options
Yes
Yes, but routinely deleted
Yes, but restricted
Yes, but restricted
Yes, but goes off-screen rapidly
Contrived
Yes
Variable
Variable
No, but with some adaption
No, but with some adaption
No
Visually decontextuali-sed
Yes, but with substantial adaption
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, but with some adaption
Yes, unless camera used
Elaborately structured
Yes
Variable
Variable
No
No
No
Factually communicative
Yes
Yes
Yes
Variable
Yes, but with some adaption
Variable
Repeatedly revisable
Yes
Variable
Variable
No
No
No
Prosodically rich
Yes, but differently
No, with increasing options
No
No
Yes, but differently
No
We must consider that a huge proportion of the terminology on the internet is written with the purpose an audience of more than one will read it. Emails, and also other messages, are usually, however, not always modified before sent, and webpages or articles from online mags for example are edited before posting.
It is clear from Desk 2 that there are a greater number of similarities between Netspeak and written terminology than Netspeak and Spoken. Equally, there continues to be a large amount of further dissimilarities not yet reviewed, for example, a consumer can interfere with a content material from a web page through duplicate and paste, downloading or other methods extremely hard using traditional written text messages. Thus, it is clear that Netspeak is nearer to written vocabulary than spoken although there are still dissimilarities; that's where Netspeak has been referred to as written language taken towards spoken.
Whilst I am prepared to agree with this, Personally i think that Crystal's assertion that Netspeak is a fresh medium is more correct. Yes, Netspeak exhibits characteristics of both written and spoken types of terms, there are way too many dissimilarities, at the moment, to enable us to categorically talk about to which category Netspeak belongs. The web is continually growing, likewise terminology evolving, which means this may change. However with language as it presently stands, I feel Crystal's assertion that Netspeak is a fourth medium is accurate.
