Always On
Language in an Online and Mobile World
Naomi S. Baron
Reviews and Awards
Joint Winner of the 2008 Duke of Edinburgh ESU English Language Book Award
If you have one book to give to a lover of the lingo, latch on to "Always On, Language in an Online and Mobile World" --William Safire, New York Times
"My choice for most influential and seminal language book of the year is Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World, by Naomi S. Baron. She is a scholar who can write in real time with real words." --William Safire, New York Times
"Naomi Baron artfully combines historical surveys, research summaries, and findings of her own to give us a comprehensive, insightful, and thoughtful handbook for understanding electronic communication-what it is, how it works, and how it's changing our lives and our interpersonal relationships." --Deborah Tannen, Georgetown University, author of You Just Don't Understand and You're Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation
"This book, written by a leading researcher and commentator on online language, is an informative and readable tour of linguistic issues raised by contemporary electronic communication media such as IM, mobile phones, and blogs. The author skillfully weaves together cutting-edge technology topics with historical vignettes, and scholarship with provocative views. Naomi Baron is not afraid to take a stance on hot-button issues, be it the effects of the Internet on language change, whether writing done in electronic media is debasing standards for the written word, or whether we are changing fundamentally as social and thinking beings as a result of being constantly connected through technology. Regardless of the readers' views on these issues, this book is sure to stimulate reflection and generate discussion in both classrooms and academic circles." --Susan C. Herring, Indiana University
"Naomi Baron's wonderful book points out the many unique and fascinating aspects of what we now take for granted: the emerging languages of the Internet and cell phone. She skillfully explains how these new technologies are transforming the ways in which we communicate, along with how we relate to each other in everyday life." --Barry Wellman, University of Toronto
"In Always On Naomi Baron analyzes the ebb and flow of language as it confronts ever-new forms of technology. She is on the forefront of examining how computers and mobile devices interact with language, and how together they form the lens through which we see the world. Baron helped us understand the effect of email on language in her prize-winning book Alphabet to Email. Now she uses the same keen insight and crackling good prose to examine instant messaging, mobile based text messages, online social networking, and the effects electronically-mediated communication is having upon our language and upon ourselves." --Rich Ling, Senior Research Scientist, Telenor R&D