Recent Semantic Changes for the Term "Digital"
The term <em>digital</em> originates from the Latin word for finger/counting and has for many years been used to denote discrete signals and information, as opposed to analog. Discrete representation is an important principle, not only in computers, but also for (printed) text, music sco...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Akron Press
2016-12-01
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| Series: | Proceedings from the Document Academy |
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| Online Access: | https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/docam/vol3/iss2/16 |
| _version_ | 1818598648307515392 |
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| author | Tore Brattli |
| author_facet | Tore Brattli |
| author_sort | Tore Brattli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The term <em>digital</em> originates from the Latin word for finger/counting and has for many years been used to denote discrete signals and information, as opposed to analog. Discrete representation is an important principle, not only in computers, but also for (printed) text, music scores and even our genes. Recently however, the use of the term has increased and the meaning expanded to include almost everything related to information technology, e.g. digital natives and digital addiction. This study investigates the core principles of digital representation and compares this concept with the recent usage, with a focus on Norwegian media. The purpose is to reveal the apparent meaning of digital in different settings, to see if the original technical concept has changed; and if so, to analyze the semantic change. The results show both synecdoche, ellipsis and indications of folk etymology. As a central concept in the digital revolution, a semantic change could be temporary. In some areas, there are already signs of a <em>post-digital age</em>, and that the excessive use of digital is declining. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:07:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e10efac49613493699e0a2d05d4c9e45 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2473-215X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:07:02Z |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Akron Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Proceedings from the Document Academy |
| spelling | doaj.art-e10efac49613493699e0a2d05d4c9e452022-12-21T22:32:18ZengUniversity of Akron PressProceedings from the Document Academy2473-215X2016-12-0110.35492/docam/3/2/16Recent Semantic Changes for the Term "Digital"Tore BrattliThe term <em>digital</em> originates from the Latin word for finger/counting and has for many years been used to denote discrete signals and information, as opposed to analog. Discrete representation is an important principle, not only in computers, but also for (printed) text, music scores and even our genes. Recently however, the use of the term has increased and the meaning expanded to include almost everything related to information technology, e.g. digital natives and digital addiction. This study investigates the core principles of digital representation and compares this concept with the recent usage, with a focus on Norwegian media. The purpose is to reveal the apparent meaning of digital in different settings, to see if the original technical concept has changed; and if so, to analyze the semantic change. The results show both synecdoche, ellipsis and indications of folk etymology. As a central concept in the digital revolution, a semantic change could be temporary. In some areas, there are already signs of a <em>post-digital age</em>, and that the excessive use of digital is declining.https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/docam/vol3/iss2/16digital representationanalog representationsemantic changesynecdoche |
| spellingShingle | Tore Brattli Recent Semantic Changes for the Term "Digital" Proceedings from the Document Academy digital representation analog representation semantic change synecdoche |
| title | Recent Semantic Changes for the Term "Digital" |
| title_full | Recent Semantic Changes for the Term "Digital" |
| title_fullStr | Recent Semantic Changes for the Term "Digital" |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Semantic Changes for the Term "Digital" |
| title_short | Recent Semantic Changes for the Term "Digital" |
| title_sort | recent semantic changes for the term digital |
| topic | digital representation analog representation semantic change synecdoche |
| url | https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/docam/vol3/iss2/16 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT torebrattli recentsemanticchangesforthetermdigital |