Page 144 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

Unit Evolution of Printing and

1 Language Technologies

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, the learners will be able to:

f understand the origins of technology in language and writing
f be familiar with some of the examples of using technology in language
f know the technologies used in print and publication
f observe the impact of social media platforms on language learning
f develop an understanding of new possibilities for using technology in
language

Prerequisites

Emily’s fingers traced the edge of the ancient clay tablet, her eyes wide with wonder.
The Sumerian cuneiform symbols, etched over 4,000 years ago, seemed to dance
before her eyes. She leaned in closer, trying to decipher their meaning.

Suddenly, her concentration was broken by a vibration in her pocket. Emily pulled
out her smartphone, squinting at the bright screen in the dim museum light.

“Where r u? Movie starts in 10!” her friend’s text read.

Emily chuckled, struck by the irony. Here she was, marveling at one of the earliest
forms of written communication, while instantaneously receiving a message from
across the city.

As she typed a quick reply, her thumbs flying over the glass surface, Emily couldn’t
help but reflect on the journey these two objects represented. From painstakingly
etched clay to lightning-fast digital signals, human communication had come a long
way.

138 SGOU - FYUGP - SLM - English for Communication