THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON ENGLISH SYNTAX AND PRAGMATICS: A CONTEMPORARY LINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE
Keywords:
Keywords: English syntax, pragmatics, digital communication, social media language, computer-mediated discourse, language change, multimodal linguistics.Abstract
This article investigates the influence of digital technology on the syntactic and pragmatic patterns of contemporary English. The rise of computer-mediated communication (CMC) through texting, social media, and AI chat interfaces has created new registers that challenge traditional linguistic norms. Although the core syntax of English remains stable, informal digital discourse reveals unique patterns of ellipsis, fragmentation, and parataxis. Simultaneously, pragmatic strategies have evolved with the use of emojis, acronyms, and multimodal cues to convey politeness, irony, and speech acts. This article argues that digital technology is not eroding linguistic standards but expanding the expressive potential of English. The study positions this evolution within linguistic theory, highlighting its relevance for both theoretical linguists and applied computational research.
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