Characterizing Language Usage in Formal and Informal Webpage Text Corpus

Abstract

Language is an integral part of any culture. English has changed substantially in the last 1500 years of its use, reflecting patterns of contact with other languages and the changing communication needs of people. The significant changes in structure and use of language can be attributed to the effect of medium of communication. English is also the lingua franca of modern corporate world. With the advent of technologies that provide platforms for creation of virtual communities, the scope for influence of medium on language is substantial. Moreover technologies like World Wide Web and Internet has provided infinite communication avenues to corporate world, individual entrepreneurs and professionals to reach a wider clientele base for business. The ever increasing online user population is creating a vast amount of English text corpus which substantially reflects the patterns of language usage. This paper presents a perspective on the influence of computer-mediated communication on language usage in formal and informal context with special reference to empirical studies conducted using webpage text corpus. The issues considered in the analysis include language usage, special aspects of CMC, user population and the overall influence of communication technology on language and its repercussions in society.