BBI 3423 LANGUAGE AND ICT

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BBI 3423LANGUAGE AND ICT

• Assoc Prof Dr Tan Bee Hoon
• Tel [phone]
• E-mail tanbh_at_fbmk.upm.edu.my
• (First face-to-face meeting)

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Course objectives

• Students will be able to
• explain the relationship between language and ICT
• outline in brief the developments in ICT and
  computer technology, and
• use the computer as an aid in language
  development.

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Overview of the course (1)

• This course in Language and ICT looks at the
  relationship between developments in ICT and
  developments in language. The course will
  consider computer-mediated communication and the
  role of the computer in supporting language
  development.

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Overview of the course (2)

• The course covers the basic principles of
  designing computer-based slide shows, including
  the appropriate use of language. In addition,
  since this is the only course that relates to
  computers in the BA (English Language) programme,
  students will first be introduced briefly to the
  history of computer development, parts of the
  computer and basic computer operations.

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Overview of the course (3)

• This course helps students gain awareness of the
  ways in which computers impact and assist
  language development.

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Course Texts

• Module The BBI 3423 module on Language and ICT
  is being updated. PPL will inform you as soon as
  it is available. In the meantime, you can refer
  to these slides for content for the Mid-semester
  Test.
• Book The Language of ICT (Tim Shortis, 2001),
  Routledge

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Role of the Computer in ICT

• Computers are needed to
• integrate the use of ICT texts, especially
  multimedia texts
• store and distribute software / programmes CDs
• disseminate information globally Internet

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Role of Language in ICT Multimedia

• Language plays a central role in
• constructing ICT texts
• writing computer programmes

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ICT Texts (1)

• ICT texts are used in
• Dissemination of information
• Commercial e.g., Internet advertisements,
  business sites
• Research e.g., Online journals, articles, news
  reports
• Educational e.g., CALL software, video
  conferencing, online conference classes

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ICT Texts (2)

• ICT texts are also used in
• Social interaction
• Synchronous/Real-time e.g., chats, IRCs
• Asynchronous i.e., not real-time e.g., email

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Studying Language in ICT Use of language in ICT
(1)

• Programming language
• coded language commands for the machine
  translated into verbal language for human users
• not covered in detail in this course

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Studying Language in ICT Use of language in ICT
(2)

• Electronic communication
• Nature of electronic text
• Cognitive and social impact on users
• Evolution of computer-mediated discourse
• Linguistic aspects
• Social aspects

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Technical properties of electronic text

• Plasticity
• Links
• Tagging
• Searches
• Templates
• Footprints
• Virtuality

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Technical properties of electronic
textPlasticity

• ICT, especially word processing, generates screen
  text or soft copy
• Soft copy
• impermanent
• alterable, available to be remodelled or combined

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Technical properties of electronic textLinks

• Electronic text can be
• copied and combined with other types of
  compatible ICT text and image
• gt allows creation of large systems of
  information
• multi-modal with animated combinations of visual,
  auditory, graphical and verbal information
• gt the heart of multimedia

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Technical properties of electronic textTagging

• Electronic text can be tagged so that particular
  sequences of information are associated with
  other types of information, e.g.,
• text can be framed by commands so that it has
  particular status and appearance on screen
• words in computer language corpus can be tagged
  with their parts of speech
• Tagging enables searches of linked information

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Technical properties of electronic textSearches

• Searches can be conducted through matched
  patterns of code, allowing vast archives of text
  to be searched quickly
• Strings of text can also trigger electronic
  responses, e.g., in spellchecker, a text string
  not recognised will trigger a dialogue box of
  options inclusion of certain words in websites
  will make it inaccessible to certain users

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Technical properties of electronic textTemplates

• Templates approximate types of human
  communication, e.g.,
• ATM machines create flow diagram that model
  counter service in a bank
• Word processors use document templates that
  prompt writers for information like addresses in
  letters

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Technical properties of electronic
textFootprints

• Many IT texts make electronic records that can be
  traced and reused, e,g,.
• Basic level text can be stored
• Faxing produces records of when and where fax is
  sent
• Word processors record length of time spent on a
  document
• Internet stores build databases of purchasing
  habits of customers, credit card information,
  etc.

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Technical properties of electronic
textVirtuality

• IT texts can
• create parallel world that simulates the real
  world without constraints of physical context
• have live real-time links with disparate and
  geographically remote audiences, information and
  media
• enable people to communicate without disclosing
  cues about their identity like their gender,
  voice or appearance

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THINK

• What are some social and ethical implications of
  the nature of electronic text?

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Social and ethical implications Nature of
electronic text

• allows doctoring of texts
• enables plagiarism
• challenges traditional notions of
• authority
• permanent documentation

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Social and ethical implications

• Dynamic nature of ICT language
• creates gap between experts and novices
• contributes to digital divide

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Homework Activity

• Explore this Website which contains a glossary of
  ICT terms
• http//www.johnlamper.btinternet.co.uk/ecdl/ict_g
  lossary.htm
• Look for examples of
• metaphors
• terms formed through affixation, blending, etc.

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ASSIGNMENT 1 (20)

• Identify twenty terms (words or phrases) that
  have taken on a new or additional meaning as a
  result of the development of the computer.
  Present a list of these terms, with BOTH their
  original and new /additional meanings in the
  context of ICT.

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ASSIGNMENT 1(b)

• Examples
• Mouse
• A furry rodent
• (ICT term) a point-and click device
• Virus
• A harmful organism capable of growth and
  multiplication only in living cells, that cause
  various diseases
• (ICT term) a computer program usually hidden
  within another program that usually performs a
  malicious action such as destroying data

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ASSIGNMENT 2 (20)

• Computers are being increasingly used in language
  learning and education. The Internet offers a
  variety of sites that can be utilised in creative
  ways by language teachers. Language learners can
  also find useful information on the Web to help
  them in their language development.

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ASSIGNMENT 2(b)

• Using a Search engine and appropriate key terms,
  identify ten Web sites that you find useful for
  language development or Language learning.
• Examples of search engines you can use are
• Google.com at http//www.google.com
• Alta vista at http//www.altavista.com

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ASSIGNMENT 2(c)

• For EACH website you identify
• Provide the NAME of the site and the Web address
  or url.
• (Example Guide to Grammar and Writing
• http//webster.commnet.edu/grammar/
• Specify the target audience (e.g. language
  learners, language teachers) you are selecting
  the sites for.
• For each site you choose, provide a one-paragraph
  description of the site and what it offers the
  target audience. (In other words, say why you
  think this site would be useful.)

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Send assignments to

• Pusat Pendidikan Luar (PPL)
• (necessary for their records)
• Assignment 1 must reach PPL 1 week before the
  mid-semester exam.
• Assignment 2 must reach PPL 2 weeks before the
  final exam.