Introduction
What started as a tool of efficient and easier means of communication for the military of the United States of America eventually became a global movement which received a great deal of following. In many cases, as what is happening in the fast-paced, technologically advanced lifestyle that the world is experiencing today, the Internet has even become a necessity. What was once a complex concept and complicated terminology became a household name (or term) that everyone — from children as young as four to seven years old to much, much older people — would use it and even make efforts to master it.
The Internet is known as a very powerful tool as it enables people to interact with each other and quite literally, to communicate in the virtual world. The Internet has served many purposes — it is a means of a source of information and a means to gain popularity or stardom. Sadly however, it has also ruined reputations and relationships. This is most likely the reason why many people who have attempted to write anything about the Internet find themselves at a loss in terms of whether to consider the Internet as an advantageous tool or as a technological form of mass destruction. Thus, people who have written information about the whole history and concept of the Internet find themselves tasked with a great undertaking as research and information needs to be factual and precise.
In this essay, the perception of how other people view and regard the whole concept of Internet will be discussed by conducting an analysis of books or any other source of information (magazine, journal, etc.) that has been written by professionals. The language and style of the author will be used as well as other concepts and techniques which will prove helpful in the analysis such as the critical discourse analysis.
Critical Discourse Analysis as Means of Social Improvement
Critical discourse analysis will prove very helpful if a person wants to analyze and dissect the information presented to him or her by any writer. With this type of analysis, content of a text is proven useful if it is scrutinized as well as if it is compared and contrasted with other examples of text in the same context. As what Thomas Huckin wrote, a great aim of critical discourse analysis (CDA) is to “ethical stance on social issues with the aim of improving society.” Therefore, CDA is used to critique the information presented by other people to find out what is “ethical” (Huckin). This form of analysis will be done on the concept of the Internet and the way other people perceive the modern terminology. Internet is, after all, a double-edged sword, and it has been subjected to great controversies and debates over and over again.
The Dominant Narrative on the Concept of the Internet
What is most evident on the topic of the Internet is that authors just have to mention how it came to be. This is most likely due to the fact that people have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge since they are naturally curious. After all, how did the Internet, with its wide scope and global following, would be able to come as to how it is known today? Authors who have written books or even news articles which discuss the Internet were compelled or felt the need to write the origin of the Internet. Urs Gattiker, for example, wrote a book on how Internet is concerned with a variety of issues, but Gattiker had to write paragraphs on how Internet really started. This seems to be the common practice with regard to how authors write about the Internet.
In fact, there are four common practices on how people perceive it and how they make other people see their perceptions through the information that they publish. These four common practices can perhaps be considered as the dominant narrative which people use and people perceive regarding the concept of the Internet. Dominant narrative is self-explanatory in some sense as to the term itself — dominant narrative — a form or type of narrative which is overly dominant in the particular field being used. In more simple terms, a narrative can be likened to some sort of pattern in which a story (usually) or information that is being recounted follows. Dominant narrative means that this same pattern is overly obvious in that recounted story or information. For example, in the article of Michael Barone, he mentions a dominant narrative present in the media — that is, “the dominant narrative in most media, and for most voters, has been that we are getting nowhere…” Simply put, most media use the same pattern and thus follow the same structure in recounting facts.
In most cases, the concept of the Internet follows this same dominant narrative or prominent pattern, which was already mentioned above. Things which are apparent in Internet books and write-ups are: the mention of the origin or history of the Internet; the layman’s language or colloquial usage of language when it comes to writing style and vocabulary; the surfacing of an issue on all aspects of the concept; and lastly, the conclusion that is not a conclusion at all — more of a hypothesis of some sort. These four things can be identified with regard to how they are present in almost all of the articles—or in fact, these can be even verified by the actual reader. One of the things to consider when doing critical analysis discourse is to never lose the primary or first inhibitions, judgments, and criticism when reading any text. This is the same case when analyzing the concept of the Internet. As a reader, he or she should not let go of the initial conclusions he or she has formed on the first reading. It is for the reason that the initial conclusions can greatly help in further understanding and/or criticizing the text deeper (Huckin). As mentioned above, this paper will contain the critical discourse analysis on the concept of the Internet — or rather, the usual language and style that authors use when writing regarding the subject matter of the Internet. The following sections will contain the concepts that are used which can be found in the dominant narrative of the articles or books. In this particular essay, the book of Gattiker will be used as a sample since it greatly inhibits the idea of the dominant narrative.
The Alpha: the Need of Mentioning the Origin of the Internet
No matter if the article is brief or long, even if it is a book or a journal of some sort — there just has to be a mention (brief, detailed, or something in between) of the origin of the Internet. Take the book of Gattiker for example — the first few pages were devoted to both an overview and a brief history of how the popular Internet came to be.
The Colloquial Language
The one thing which is very apparent in the books is the minimal use of complex technological terminologies. It is indeed true that there is a mention of the occasional abbreviated terminology, and yet the authors are not compelled to barrage the readers with the innumerable complicated vocabulary or wordings which would leave any technologically challenged person to be in awe to be gravely frustrated.
The Persistent and Profuse Issues
As what was the whole point of Gattiker’s book, it is to present the many issues surrounding the Internet. Whether the Internet is greatly advantageous or such a cause of destruction is still questionable. Issues which encompass economic, social, moral, and ethical affairs have greatly pervaded conversations and debates and it is no wonder that it has made its way to books. In fact, many articles and books on the Internet are oftentimes concentrated on those issues. However, as what the fourth and last point will prove, the debates are going in circles
The Untold Future Ahead: the Mysterious Conclusion of the Future of the Internet
In most books depicting the future of the Internet or any writer concluding on the subject of the Internet, none can really fully conclude anything with much conviction. This is most likely due to the fact that technology is so dynamic and changing that no one can predict or even pre-empt the future of technology, much less predict the outcome of the Internet as it is a very complex and changeable concept. It is not even tangible and/or physical. Its existence relies solely in the cyber space.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the dominant narrative on the subject matter of the Internet is one and the same — that there is a known beginning which is so muddled, a magnanimous present which the modern world is experiencing today, and a mysterious future. As what critical discourse analysis is meant to meet — it is supposed to improve society through the means of the analysis. The information presented in the Internet and about the Internet can either be both used as a means of social transformation for improvement. However, as what the dominant narrative of the concept portrays, there is still much mystery and confusion.
Works Cited
Barone, Michael. “A Narrative Success”. New York The Sun. 24 Sept. 2000. New York:
Creators Syndicate, Inc. 9 June 2009. ;http://www.nysun.com/opinion/narrative- of-success/63242/;.
Gattiker, Urs E. The Internet as a Diverse Community: Cultural, Organizational, and Political Issues. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2001.
Huckin, Thomas N. “Social Approaches 6 Critical Discourse Analysis.” 9 June 2009. ;http://eca.state.gov/education/engteaching/pubs/BR/functionalsec3_6.htm;.
