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The Language of Websites

By Mark Boardman

Published October 14th 2004 by Routledge – 136 pages

Series: Intertext

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Description

The Intertext series has been specifically designed to meet the needs of contemporary English Language Studies. Working with Texts: A Core Introduction to Language Analysis (second edition 2001) is the foundation text, which is complemented by a range of 'satellite' titles. These provide students with hands-on practical experience of textual analysis through special topics, and can be used individually or in conjunction with Working with Texts.

The Language of Websites:

  • explores the ways in which websites use and present language
  • covers many different types of web-based interaction, from buying online and auction sites, to search engines, email links and chatrooms
  • considers the structures of language online, such as audience interaction and how hypertext alters narrative structure
  • features a full glossary.

Reviews

'This book is timely, well written and insightful … [it] would be a satisfying and

illuminating read for a wide range of people who are interested in

websites, from novice to expert, from creator to user to purchaser-

student, linguist, programmer and instructor alike.' - Linguist List

'My overall impression of the book is that it truly covers what its title promises. I especially enjoyed the informative examples and the very accessible and engaging exercises which help the reader to apply presented theories in order to find directed answers.' - The European English Messenger

Contents

Introduction: Background To Language And The Web. What the Book is Not. Human Communication. Unit 1 Getting Really Wired. The Physical Context Of Websites. A Terrible Beauty is Born. How Personal Computers Began. Everything Within. The Origins of the Web. The March of Time. Developments in Web Design. Unit 2 Front Of House. Institutional Websites. Virtually There. Websites as Metaphorical Buildings. Basic Burger - Nothing on it. Developments in Web Graphics. Marking Territory. Web Address Names. Mapping Territory. Finding your Way Around. Unit 3 Boundaries. Real And Imagined. Personal Websites. How the Web Defeats Boundaries. Publishing for Everyone. Does the Language of Websites Exist? Doppelgänger: Your Web Personality. Unit 4 Streamers And Flashers. Sound And Video. Content On The Web. The Digital Revolution. It's Alive. Multi-Media Content. Narrative Enforcement. Popup Windows and Spam. Unit 5 Ready Or Not. Searching The Web. Indexes and Catalogues. Computers as Searchers. The Language of Dead Links. Comparing Search Engines. Advanced Searching and Boolean Logic. Unit 6 The Raw Materials of Web Writing. Two Languages of the Web. What you See is Not What you Get. Index of Terms. Bibliography

Author Bio

Mark Boardman is Head of Media at South Craven School, Keighley, Yorkshire, UK. He is an experienced teacher, having taught English A Level for many years, and is a senior examiner for AQA English Language. He also founded and runs The English Language List, an email discussion group for teachers of English Language.