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lisabisabenson's review
Realised I was reading the words on the page but not the actual book, will revisit another time because the concepts are fascinating
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
3.0
Rather academic look at the history of internet language, but less about present practice than I expected. Some nuggets that will stick with me (who knew that "hello" started with the telephone?). And, I guess I should try to stop using ellipses...but not sure I'll succeed :)
ohclaire's review against another edition
5.0
Help! Can't write this review without overthinking my use of formal/informal language on the internet!
sksrenninger's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed some aspects of this book, but the section on emoji really dragged for me, and the meme section never really recovered. The idea that older generations do have methods of informal writing, and that they just don’t line up with newer, online styles, was thought-provoking, and I loved the discussion of typography as tone. Agree with Erin that it was more academic than I expected, but I think with different expectations that shouldn’t stop you from plowing in.
laz_'s review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
as a linguistics nerd and general internet denizen this was really fun!! the author narrates the audiobook and has an absolute blast doing it, especially because the audio medium means you can use intonation for all the explanations of language and i get the pleasure of her trying to enunciate a keyboard smash.
i really appreciate any linguistic interpretation that embraces change and adaptation in language because that’s all language really is!! every generation language adapts to new speakers and new and wonderful ways to say things are invented so that was neat to learn about. it can be a bit of a retread if you’re either a) fairly familiar with the intricacies of internet language or b) a college student who is taking a linguistics class or generally spends a lot of time on wikipedia. either way hearing gretchen nerd about stuff was really enjoyable!!
as a linguistics nerd and general internet denizen this was really fun!! the author narrates the audiobook and has an absolute blast doing it, especially because the audio medium means you can use intonation for all the explanations of language and i get the pleasure of her trying to enunciate a keyboard smash.
i really appreciate any linguistic interpretation that embraces change and adaptation in language because that’s all language really is!! every generation language adapts to new speakers and new and wonderful ways to say things are invented so that was neat to learn about. it can be a bit of a retread if you’re either a) fairly familiar with the intricacies of internet language or b) a college student who is taking a linguistics class or generally spends a lot of time on wikipedia. either way hearing gretchen nerd about stuff was really enjoyable!!
willy0_o's review against another edition
It was too pop for me. Her audience is too general, too uninformed about linguistics. I wanted her to go deeper maybe. Idk it just didn’t really interest me. Her references for internet speak were too old/millennial, and that makes sense. It was published pre pandemic and was prob written years before. It’s hard to write a book that captures the moment. I might return to it
ponch22's review against another edition
4.0
I added this ebook to my Overdrive hold shelf after hearing [a:Gretchen McCulloch|17391188|Gretchen McCulloch|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1550772888p2/17391188.jpg] on one podcast and hearing more about her book [b:Because Internet|36739320|Because Internet Understanding the New Rules of Language|Gretchen McCulloch|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547222587l/36739320._SY75_.jpg|58531406] on another. It came off hold a lot quicker than I expected a new release to, and so I had to really try to make time to read it every day to finish before the 3-week loan was up.
(I didn't quite make it and had to put my Kindle on Airplane Mode to prevent the book from disappearing... I even lost some of my final chapter highlights since I was highlighting off-line.)
The book felt like something this part-time proofreader would love—a study of language and how it's changing with the rise of the internet!
⌒°(❛ᴗ❛)°⌒
And, while parts of the book were fascinating reads, other parts felt—I can't quite remember... (THIS is why I usually try to write these reviews right when I finish reading!).
The book takes an academic-like approach—presenting an idea or thesis, citing research (NOTE: the footnotes here weren't as fun to read as those in [a:Ken Jennings|45003|Ken Jennings|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1353968375p2/45003.jpg]'s [b:Planet Funny|36373629|Planet Funny How Comedy Took Over Our Culture|Ken Jennings|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527540331l/36373629._SY75_.jpg|58060881]), drawing conclusions—but I feel like sometimes the chapters got kind of stuck in a rut... Two or three pages went by and McCulloch was still repeating the same point again and again instead of providing new examples or moving the argument forward? (I think that sort of summarizes my disappointment and what kept it from being 5*)
(ಥ﹏ಥ)
But if you have any interest in the internet, language, linguistics, or what makes memes so popular, then this book may teach you something.
(I didn't quite make it and had to put my Kindle on Airplane Mode to prevent the book from disappearing... I even lost some of my final chapter highlights since I was highlighting off-line.)
The book felt like something this part-time proofreader would love—a study of language and how it's changing with the rise of the internet!
⌒°(❛ᴗ❛)°⌒
And, while parts of the book were fascinating reads, other parts felt—I can't quite remember... (THIS is why I usually try to write these reviews right when I finish reading!).
The book takes an academic-like approach—presenting an idea or thesis, citing research (NOTE: the footnotes here weren't as fun to read as those in [a:Ken Jennings|45003|Ken Jennings|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1353968375p2/45003.jpg]'s [b:Planet Funny|36373629|Planet Funny How Comedy Took Over Our Culture|Ken Jennings|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527540331l/36373629._SY75_.jpg|58060881]), drawing conclusions—but I feel like sometimes the chapters got kind of stuck in a rut... Two or three pages went by and McCulloch was still repeating the same point again and again instead of providing new examples or moving the argument forward? (I think that sort of summarizes my disappointment and what kept it from being 5*)
(ಥ﹏ಥ)
But if you have any interest in the internet, language, linguistics, or what makes memes so popular, then this book may teach you something.
ellabynight's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5