Gretchen McCulloch, an internet linguist and author of Because Internet, delves into the evolving landscape of online communication. She shares how internet language—think emojis and exclamation points—creates vibrant human connections rather than ruining English. They discuss the significance of sarcasm in digital dialogues and how it functions like a trust fall. McCulloch explains the historical evolution of writing, highlighting the informal styles we now embrace and the unique challenges posed by digital interactions, especially around punctuation.
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insights INSIGHT
Because Internet Construction
The "Because X" construction, popularized on the internet, reflects a broader trend of stylized verbal incoherence.
This mimics emotional incoherence, where strong feelings are expressed through unconventional grammar.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Key Smash Conventions
Key smash, seemingly random keyboard typing, actually follows patterns and social conventions.
McCulloch's survey revealed users often edit their key smashes to conform to these subconscious norms.
insights INSIGHT
Internet User Cohorts
Internet linguists analyze online language, considering different user cohorts like "old internet people" and "full internet people."
These cohorts are defined by their online behavior and how they use the internet for social interaction.
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Gretchen McCulloch is a self-described “internet linguist,” host of the podcast Lingthusiasm, and author of the recent book Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language. In it, she demonstrates that the way we've come to speak on the internet -- from emojis to exclamation points -- is not random or arbitrary, but part of a broader attempt to make our written communication more vibrant, meaningful, and, genuinely human. Far from ‘ruining’ the written English language, internet-speak, McCulloch argues, is revolutionizing language in unprecedented, and ultimately positive, ways.
We discuss why I feel bad if I don't use enough exclamation points (or use too many), why postcards are the pre-internet predecessors to Instagram, how emojis act as written equivalents of our body language, why sarcasm is like a “linguistic trust fall,” the meaning of “Ok boomer” and much more.
The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
