ACTIVITY: DEFINING TERMS
1) What do the words “text” and “technology” mean to you?
Considering the course title, “Text technologies: The changing spaces of reading and writing”, I define the following: “text” is a material that communicates ideas, information and meaning to its reader or audience (e.g., poetry, images, articles, podcasts, etc.); and “technology” is an invention that helps its users create or do things (e.g., iPhone, door handle, Roomba, dishwasher, etc.).
***Note: My definitions of these terms were created without consulting any resource, and are my initial thoughts.
2) Listen to The Word Guy’s episode on Internet Age Words
Words that might have been updated based on technological advancements:
- Viral = a malicious action that destroys data
- Computer = an electronic device that processes and stores data
- Cloud = the vast expansiveness of the internet where you can store data
- Text = send a text message to someone
- Code = instructions for computer programming
- Firewall = hardware or software to protect computer systems from evil manipulation
- Computer File = storage unit on a computer device
- Cursor = a moveable visual cue or indicator on a computer screen
- Browser = engine that helps users search for information on the network
- Firehose = large stream of data
- Tag = to link to someone else’s profile on social media
- Catfish = someone who makes a false social networking profile for deceptive purposes
- Mouse = controls a cursor on a computer screen
- Google (Googol) = search engine with limitless information to the web
- Tablet = a handheld digital device
- Bump = to move a online post to the top of the thread
- Block = an action done to prevent an individual on social media from contacting you
- Canoe = a Twitter conversation with too many usernames
- Follow = receive regular notifications from an individual’s or company’s social media
3) Search the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) for formal definitions and etymology
“text”
“technology”
The wording of anything written or printed; the structure formed by the words in their order; the very words, phrases, and sentences as written.
OED (2022)
A particular practical or industrial art; a branch of the mechanical arts or applied sciences; a technological discipline.
OED (2022)
Comes from the French word “texte” for the Scriptures. Comes from the medieval Latin word “textus” meaning written character or style, tissue of a literary work that which is woven, web, texture. “text-” is the participial stem of “texĕre”, which means to weave.
Comes from the post-classical Latin word “technologia” (1607) for treatise on the liberal arts, or the systematic treatment of grammar (1612). Comes from Hellenistic Greek “τεχνολογία“, meaning systematic treatment of grammar, etc.
“textile”
“technique”
A woven fabric; any kind of cloth. Also, a synthetic material suitable for weaving; any of various materials, as a bonded fabric, which do not require weaving.
OED (2022)
The formal or practical aspect of any art, occupation, or field; manner of execution or performance with regard to this. Also more generally: way of doing something.
OED (2022)
Comes from the Latin word “textilis” meaning woven or “textile” for woven fabric. “text-” is the participial stem of “texĕre”, which means to weave.
Comes from the French word “technique” (masculine noun) for technical character or technicality (1744). Later known as a French feminine noun meaning branch of knowledge, science, scholarship (1842). By 1846, it was known as technical methods collectively or the formal or practical aspect of an art, science or subject. Closer to the 20th century, it was known as mechanical and applied arts.
4) Graph the usage of the terms over time with Google Ngram Viewer
Looking at the above snapshot searching for the terms, “text” and “technology” between the dates of 1500 to 2019, there are some clear patterns revealed. For one, there is a limited number of times that the term “technology” (see red line) appears in the Google Books corpus between 1500-1950. Then there is a spike in the graph where more of the word, “technology” is found in the Google Books corpus until 2019. On the other hand, the term, “text” shows larger spikes of appearing in the Google Books corpus earlier on since 1500-1600. Then there is a decrease of the term being used and is at its lowest record around 1700. After this time, there was a steady increase of the word being found in the Google Books corpus from 1700-2019.
These results might be due to the digital advancement of our generation and the technological evolution. Nowadays we can see a growing dependency on various technologies of our world. Earlier in the 1500s, there was more dependency on texts.
5) Consider the following questions or come up with questions of your own
What does the etymology of these words suggest about their inherent meanings?
It suggests that the meanings build on each other and the past definitions were appropriate and relevant for the time.
What, for example, does textiles have to do with text?
The word, “textiles” is related to the word, “text” because they both weave something. Textiles weave fabric, and texts weave words, sentences and paragraphs together to create a literary work.
How is technology related to text?
Technology is related to text in the way that text works together with technology. If you think about it digital texts such as Twitter posts require a keyboard or dictation by speaking through a device. Texts are also changing in the way that you can read and listen to them (e.g., text-to-speech assistive technology).
What does teche (teaching) have to do with technology?
“Teche”, or teaching, is relevant to the word, “technology” because it involves showing or sharing knowledge of how to access and analyze information. Technology is a tool, that when used intentionally and with a design purpose, can transform one’s education.
Can you identify historical events that might have influenced changes in the usage of these terms over time as evidenced in the Google Ngram search?
In 1974, the first computer was released. It was 20 feet long! (CHM, 2022). This was a big step for technology and the use of its term was used more and more over time. Another historical event that might have influenced the usage of the term, “technology” was in 1990 when Tim Berners-Lee finished the World Wide Web (Craig, 2021). Craig (2021) also mentions that after this significant occurrence: the first webmail known as hotmail was made (1996); weblogs were introduced (1997); Google was released (1998); Wikipedia went live (2001); MySpace launched (2003); Web 2.0 is popularized and Facebook is live (2004); YouTube is created (2005); Twitter went live (2006); and iPhone was released allowing access to mobile web applications (2007). While the year 2020 is not shown on the Google Ngram search, I can imagine that with the COVID-19 pandemic, this would have changed the above graph significantly.
References
CHM. 2022. Timeline of computer history. CHM. https://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/1974/#:~:text=IBM%203850%20mass%20storage%20system,-Memory%20%26%20Storage&text=The%20largest%203850%20storage%20system,and%20was%2020%20feet%20long
Craig, W. (2021, June 15). The history of the internet in a nutshell. WebFX. webfx.com/blog/web-design/the-history-of-the-internet-in-a-nutshell/
OED. (2022). OED. https://www-oed-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/
