ABSTRACT

In Alphabet to Email Naomi Baron takes us on a fascinating and often entertaining journey through the history of the English language, showing how technology - especially email - is gradually stripping language of its formality.
Drawing together strands of thinking about writing, speech, pedagogy, technology, and globalization, Naomi Baron explores the ever-changing relationship between speech and writing and considers the implications of current language trends on the future of written English.
Alphabet to Email will appeal to anyone who is curious about how the English language has changed over the centuries and where it might be going.

chapter 1|25 pages

Robin Hood’s Retort

chapter 2|22 pages

Legitimating Written English

chapter 3|47 pages

Who Writes, Who Reads, and Why

chapter 4|48 pages

Setting Standards

chapter 5|24 pages

The Rise of English Comp

chapter 6|30 pages

Commas and Canaries

chapter 7|19 pages

What Remington Wrought

chapter 8|31 pages

Language at a Distance

chapter 9|13 pages

Why the Jury’s Still Out on Email

chapter 10|10 pages

Epilogue: Destiny or Choice