Tag Archives: activity

Activity 1

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

Snapshot taken from https://tinyurl.com/ycksky8c

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

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/