Do you worry that the internet and its tools—social media, emojis, memes—are wrecking your kids' spoken and written language? Or that the same thing might be happening to you? Gretchen McCulloch is here to reassure readers that no, future humans won't communicate solely by emojis and GIFs. What's more, the internet has made us all into writers, melding writing and informality. In Because Internet, McCulloch shows how internet language, like any other language, has evolved into its current form and how it continues to change. 

A Montreal-based internet linguist and columnist for Wired, McCulloch begins with a quick primer on linguistics, the study of language. "The continued evolution of language is neither the solution to all our problems nor the cause of them," she writes. "It simply is. You never truly step into the same English twice." Since the internet records what people post, tweet and share, it's a good place to study recent changes in informal language. 

McCulloch is fascinating on emojis, those tiny digital smiley faces, hearts and flamenco dancers that we add to texts. Having studied emojis since 2014, she describes her research into the reasons that emojis caught on, showing why emojis and GIFs serve as gestures rather than as a new language. And McCulloch is convincingly reassuring about teen internet use. "Whether they're spending hours on the landline telephone, racking up a massive texting bill, or being ‘addicted' to Facebook or MySpace or Instagram, something that teens want to do in every generation is spend a lot of unstructured time hanging out, flirting, and jockeying for status with their peers." 

Although the concept of internet linguistics might sound dry, McCulloch takes a sprightly approach. She's funny as well as informative. Because Internet just might lead you to see the internet, and how you (and your kids) use it, in a whole new way. 

Four fresh takes on work and life in the digital age.

In Uncanny Valley, Anna Wiener chronicles her career at a Silicon Valley startup. After an unrewarding stint in New York publishing, Wiener was ready to give the San Francisco tech world a try, but the behind-the- scenes reality of the industry took her by surprise. Wiener tells of a patriarchal culture of wealth and ambition that left her disenchanted and in search of answers about her own life. Written with humor and intelligence, this briskly paced memoir explores gender in the workplace, the millennial mindset and the uses and abuses of power by influential companies. It's a tech industry tell-all that's both riveting and relevant.

Gretchen McCulloch delivers an intriguing study of the terminology, grammar and symbolism that shape online communication in Because Internet. McCulloch is a linguistics whiz who writes clearly and comprehensively for the lay reader about her area of expertise. In Because Internet, she delves into the development and diffusion of online slang, the power of memes and the inspiration behind emoji. Trends in online vocabulary and the progression of language are among the subjects up for debate, providing reading groups with meaty material for discussion.

Jia Tolentino critiques digital-age trends and attitudes in her acclaimed debut essay collection, Trick Mirror. Over the course of the book's nine pieces, Tolentino examines the impact of social media and the internet, the American dream of perfectionism and other timely topics. She also shares personal stories, including an essay on her brush with reality TV. (She appeared on "Girls v. Boys: Puerto Rico.") Funny, savvy and insightful, the collection establishes Tolentino as a vital millennial voice. Complex topics including self-image in the era of Instagram and the risks and rewards of social media make this collection a terrific pick for any book club.

Of the moment and utterly fascinating, Victoria Turk's Kill Reply All explores the unique and multifaceted challenges of digital communication. Turk, who is a features editor at Wired UK, offers valuable advice about how to communicate online with confidence, whether that's through chatting in a dating app or answering emails at work. Bringing a comic flair to the proceedings, she covers important topics like online friendships, the uses of emoji and the finer points of text messaging. There's plenty for reading groups to debate and discuss in Turk's thoughtful yet lighthearted guide to being polite in your online life.

Taking a deep dive into Internet culture, Wired columnist McCulloch explores the linguistic evolution of the English language based on online forums, affinity groups, and generations of "internet people." From the birth of "lol" to the rise of sparkly tildes, ironic punctuation, memes, and more, the author examines changes in norms surrounding capitalization and punctuation and the implications for online communication. McCulloch then traces the history behind these new standards, often drawing comparison to differences in regional English and historical linguistic applications, placing Internet English within the larger framework of English dialects. It's hard to describe a book on this subject without sounding dry, but this is a fun read for Internet people of all generations as it moves from aLtErNatE lettering and minimalist typography to cat memes and sneks to provide a fascinating look at the development of online English, its roots in early computing, and the ways in which we adapt technology to express emotion. VERDICT Recommended for web and language nerds alike, encompassing illuminating facts on the origin of acronyms, memes, and digital tone of voice.—Gricel Dominguez, Florida International Univ. Lib., Miami

McCulloch, writer of the "Resident Linguist" column for Wired and podcast cohost of Lingthusiasm, debuts with a funny and fascinating examination of the evolution of language in the digital age. Exploring everything from capitalization and punctuation to emojis and gifs, her book breaks down the structure of "internet language" in a precise and engaging way. She offers novices a well-structured introduction to modern linguistics, including a history of informal writing and the social implications of language. McCulloch discusses the ongoing shift toward less formal, more concise greetings in message writing, observing that receiving emails from strangers provides a "never-ending multiplayer guessing game of what generation someone's in," based on how her correspondent addresses her. She also discusses the stylized language of memes, sharing an excerpt of Genesis translated into the terminology of lolcat memes ("Oh hai. In teh beginning Ceiling Cat maded the skiez An da Urfs...") and the function of punctuation in text messages, such as how a period may or may not signal passive aggression. An extensive notes section invites readers to further explore the impact the internet has had on language. Thanks to McCulloch's skill in explaining both academic and popular subjects, this survey will make an excellent starting point for anyone's exploration of the topic. (July)