Perspectives on Contemporary Media

Perspectives on Contemporary Media

Through the Lens of Olson (1997)

This poster illustrates criticisms and advocacy on contemporary media through the lens of From Utterance to Text: The Bias of Language in Speech and Writing (Olson, 1997).

Semantic vs. Syntactic Approach

Semantic Approach (Chafe)

Syntactic Approach (Chomsky)

Structure and rules of sentence formation

Meaning and use of language in context

Focus

Information flow and consciousness

Key Concept

Universal Grammar

Formal, rule-based, abstract models

Functional, meaning-based, context-sensitive

Metho-dology

Written text (Explicit written prose in science and philosophy)

Oral lauguage(Ordinary conversation)

Usage

For Chomsky, the meaning of language is not tied to the speaker's knowledge of the world but is determined by the sentence or text itself. The meaning of a sentence is assigned formally or mechanically on the basis of the syntactic and lexical properties of the sentence per se and not on the basis of the expectancies or preferred interpretations of the listener (Chomsky, 1972, p. 24).

Chafe have argued that the linguistic system is not autonomous. The meaning of a sentence is not determined exclusively by the lexical and syntactic properties of the sentence itself; rather, the sentence is an indication of the speaker's meaning. (Olson, 1977, p. 271)

Quote

Contemporary Media

Click each icon to view the perspectives of the different media.

Semantic

Utterance

ChatGPT

Whatsapp

Movies

Facebook

GitHub

Novels

Syntactic

Research

Traditional

Contemporary

Reference

Reference

Olson, D. (1997). From utterance to text: The bias of language in speech and writing. Harvard Educational Review, 47(3), 257-281.

Created by Ran Kang, 2025

ChatGPT

Criticism AI chat platforms such as ChatGPT are often criticized for promoting the misuse or erosion of language norms. Because artificial intelligence can understand and synthesize users' input regardless of grammatical accuracy, users no longer need to adhere strictly to language rules to receive a coherent response. While the platform adopts a conversational style, the function of text becomes more utilitarian—focused on obtaining useful results rather than engaging in socially normative dialogue. For example, social or cultural conventions such as saying "hi," "thank you," or "please" are not required for effective communication. Instead, including specific keywords in a clear and efficient format is often more effective.

Advocacy Interestingly, the current way users interact with ChatGPT resembles computing language, but in a conversational form. This hybrid mode allows for highly efficient and goal-oriented communication. It raises compelling questions about how such interaction patterns with AI might influence human communication in other contexts—such as face-to-face conversations or engagement with more traditional forms of language, like essays and novels. I am curious to see how this emerging trend will reshape our expectations around clarity, politeness, and creativity in everyday language use.

Movies (adopted from original novels)

Criticism Interestingly enough, the very reason social media platforms like Facebook are criticized can be seen as a unique strength of literature such as novels. When readers engage with a literary text, they interpret it in their own personal ways, drawing on prior knowledge and experiences. This process of “imagination” while reading promotes creativity and critical thinking. In contrast, films adapted from original novels are often criticized for misrepresentation or misinterpretation, as they can limit the reader’s imaginative engagement by imposing a fixed visual and narrative interpretation.

Advocacy However, it is undeniable that movies can liberate the written text by creating vivid and lively images. Through sound, visuals, and performance, films can bring stories to life in ways that resonate emotionally and immediately with audiences. This sensory richness can make narratives more accessible and impactful, especially for those who may struggle with traditional reading.

GitHub

Criticism GitHub is a technical platform used for creating, sharing, and collaborating on computing and programming projects. Programming languages such as HTML, Quarto, or Bookdown must follow strict rules to function correctly. This is somewhat similar to what syntacticians argue about the syntactic and lexical properties of sentences—how meaning is assigned formally or mechanically through structure. For Chomsky, the meaning of language is not tied to the speaker's knowledge of the world but is determined by the sentence or text itself. The meaning of a sentence is assigned formally or mechanically on the basis of the syntactic and lexical properties of the sentence per se and not on the basis of the expectancies or preferred interpretations of the listener (Chomsky, 1972, p. 24).

When using a computing language on a technical media platform such as GitHub, even a single error—like a missing period or an extra comma—can cause a malfunction or communication failure. In this environment, the author's intention, meaning, or context is not the primary element of communication. Advocacy On the other hand, this strict requirement for syntactic precision enables globalized use. As long as someone understands the computing language and its rules, effective communication can occur with minimal bias or misinterpretation. This precision also allows users to communicate efficiently with computer systems.

Whatsapp

Criticisms Instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp have been criticized for promoting the misuse of language. Users often rely on informal expressions—such as idioms, abbreviations, and slang—rather than following grammatical rules and proper language use. As a result, some critics argue that WhatsApp contributes to a decline in literacy skills. This phenomenon may be attributed to the nature of the platform itself. As Olson argued, some texts can function more like spoken utterances or reflections of everyday conversational language, even though they are written. Therefore, the syntactic structures typically expected in formal writing may not apply in this new form of media, which exists in a space between syntactic and semantic context.

Advocacy The quick messaging feature remains a powerful tool for informal communication. By mimicking spoken language in written form, it enables quick, easy, and efficient interaction between users. Additionally, various types of media—such as emojis, voice messages, audio, and video—help convey the speaker's intended meaning in more dynamic, diverse, and effective ways, going beyond traditional speaking or writing.

Facebook

Since each reader engages with social media posts through the lens of their own knowledge and experiences, interpretations of meaning can vary widely. As a result, there is always a risk that a post may be understood differently than the author intended, especially during interactions like liking, commenting, and sharing. Advocacy However, the positive impact of social media platforms in amplifying individual voices should not be overlooked. Platforms like Facebook remain valuable tools for freely sharing diverse ideas and perspectives on social issues in a public space. Additionally, features that allow users to share various types of media—such as audio and video, not just written text—may help mitigate the risk of misinterpretation.

Criticisms Facebook has often been criticized for the potential risks of misinterpreting original posts, which can contribute to the spread of fake news. According to Chafe’s argument about written text, social media posts—such as those on Facebook—are particularly susceptible to such issues. Comprehension, therefore, may be represented by a set of procedures that involves selectively applying one's personal experiences or knowledge of the world to the surface structure of sentences to yield a meaning. In so doing, one elaborates, assimilates, or perhaps "imagines" the sentence. (Olson, 1977, p.272)