The Future of Language

Will language as we know it cease to exist? Exploring the way in which language is likely to change over the coming years, and what this will mean for how we live our lives, this enlightening book plots out the likely futures for language, distinguishing myth from reality and superstition from scientifically-based prediction. From the rise of artificial intelligence and speaking robots, to brain implants and computer-facilitated telepathy, Philip Seargeant surveys the development of new digital ‘languages’, such as emojis, animated gifs and memes, and investigates how conventions of spoken and written language are being modified by new trends in communication. Separating fantasy from reality, The Future of Language shines a light on the technology currently being developed to revolutionise our use of language and questions the consequences for a society in which all language is data that can be stored, monitored, and controlled.