Linguistics of Tweeting/Text Messaging

Below is an interesting talk from a well respected professor of linguistics, born in 1941 mind, on text messaging and tweeting.

I watched it on my iPad while washing up lunch today. (The kitchen window and frame act as a natural amplifier for the sound! #hackthesystem)

I'm a bit late to the party with this video. I stumbled on it by chance but have since realised various others in my PLN have been nattering about it.

It struck a particular chord for me because I've recently re-read 'The Brain that Changes Itself', which is compulsory reading, and finishes with a chapter on how external media rewires the mind. I've heard it said that the human brain is perfect for becoming a cyborg. We don't need bits of wires connected to our actual brain cells to become cyborgs. The input/output comes through our hardwired USB hub: hearing, sight, & all the other senses. I find it perfectly accurate to talk about my iPhone as an extension of myself. Most tech is like this. Ever since clothing.

Our brain USB hub is hardwired but the CPU is softwired. The brain adapts to input.

This is why cochlear implants work. It's also why the vision impaired can get vision-input from their tongue.

I can't help but disagree with the professor on one point! He says near the end that 20 years is not long enough for the brain to be rewired. The revolution in neuroplasticity suggests otherwise. 

How has the media changed our brains? Is 20 years of the internet long enough? Or is 2 months long enough? And how are our brains changing? 

Annnnyway here's the video, kk?