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How does technology impact language variation and diversity?

Seward McAmish

Technology is something that helps us do things easier and faster. We use it to talk to people who are far away, to do work, and to have fun. But did you know that technology can also change the way we talk and write?

Language variation and diversity means that people talk and write in different ways depending on where they’re from, their culture, and their education. For example, people in England speak English differently than people in Australia. And people who are really good at writing might use bigger words than people who are just learning.

When we use technology to talk and write, we can sometimes change the way we speak and write. For example, when we talk on the phone or video chat with someone who lives far away, we might start to pick up some of their words and accents. And when we text or use social media, we might start using abbreviations like “lol” (laugh out loud) or “u” (you) instead of spelling things out fully.

But sometimes, technology can also make language more diverse. For example, there are now many websites and apps where you can learn different languages and dialects. And when we read different things online, like blogs or news articles from different countries, it can help us learn more about how people talk and write in those places.

So, technology can both change the way we talk and write, and also help us learn more about language variation and diversity. It’s important to remember that there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to talk or write – everyone’s style is different and unique.