Because Internet

Understanding the New Rules of Language

By: Gretchen McCulloch

Narrated by: Gretchen McCulloch

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!!

Named a Best Book of 2019 by TIME, Amazon, and The Washington Post

A Wired Must-Read Book of Summer

“Gretchen McCulloch is the internet’s favorite linguist, and this book is essential reading. Reading her work is like suddenly being able to see the matrix.” —Jonny Sun, author of everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too

Because Internet is for anyone who's ever puzzled over how to punctuate a text message or wondered where memes come from. It's the perfect book for understanding how the internet is changing the English language, why that's a good thing, and what our online interactions reveal about who we are.

Language is humanity's most spectacular open-source project, and the internet is making our language change faster and in more interesting ways than ever before. Internet conversations are structured by the shape of our apps and platforms, from the grammar of status updates to the protocols of comments and @replies. Linguistically inventive online communities spread new slang and jargon with dizzying speed. What's more, social media is a vast laboratory of unedited, unfiltered words where we can watch language evolve in real time.

Even the most absurd-looking slang has genuine patterns behind it. Internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch explores the deep forces that shape human language and influence the way we communicate with one another. She explains how your first social internet experience influences whether you prefer "LOL" or "lol," why ~sparkly tildes~ succeeded where centuries of proposals for irony punctuation had failed, what emoji have in common with physical gestures, and how the artfully disarrayed language of animal memes like lolcats and doggo made them more likely to spread.

Academic and Engaging

Because Internet is a linguistic study of language on the internet that provides a fascinating look into how people use language on the internet and why. In a culture where new language/culture is so often looked down upon, doubly so for the internet, this study isn't just interesting, it's vitally important.
On top of that, McCullough's reading is energetic and full of passion.

Linguistic Nerdery Par Excellence!

For those who love thinking about how language works or who have ever wondered what the heck is going on with language usage on the internet, this book is for you!

Such a fun narrator!

I loved this book! I’ve already recommended it to two friends. Heard McCulloch’s conversation with Ezra Klein on Klein’s podcast.

Too Short!

Really the only ~flaw~ with this is that I wanted more! And that I'm hyper aware of the language I'm using in this review and how I'm typing it!

like lingthusiasm, but longer

gretchen mcculloch has had a fair amount of practice recording about linguistics for a broad audience, in her and lauren gawne's podcast "lingthusiasm". she brings all that skill and more to this fabulous book, which she skillfully wrote, narrated, and even adapted in certain places for the benefit of audio readers. if you've ever wanted to hear exactly what askldjsahgmsba sounds like, or what the voice of lolcats is, listen to this recording. every ounce of mcculloch's excitement about her research is made clear in her writing and then doubled by her narration. far from a serene and neutral david attenborough kind of story telling, mcculloch right there with you, inviting you into her awesome conversation with the world and leading you fearlessly and joyfully forward into the future of language, culture, and relationships.