`Technology has played a role in language change'

How has technology affected the evolution of language over the last two-three decades? Technology has played a role in language change for a very long time, going back to the invention of writing, then printing, then telephones, broadcast media, and now the internet, social media, and smartphones. Forms of electronic communications are themselves changing and evolving very quickly, and I don't think that we will fully appreciate their effects on language for some time to come. But these technologies provide a rich platform for human creativity with language.

Do you think linking vocalised signals with non-vocalised ones can shed new light on how humans communicate? Yes. Researchers of social interaction are very aware that bodily behaviour such as gestures and facial expressions are important. A lot is now known about how hand gestures are tightly integrated with the words people use in conversation, and this includes various gestures that help regulate the flow of social interaction.

Do speech patterns, words and the usage of signals vary depending on the speaker's audience? The context of a conversation can have a strong effect on aspects of how we talk, such as formality. All languages have the word khuh?y, and they also have alternatives, such as more explicit expressions like kwhat did you say?y or polite forms such as kpardon me?y. This is not so much about one person having more authority, but about the formality of the context. There is a universal bedrock of conversational dynamics that forms the basis of how conversation works. But variation on this is always possible in special cultural situations. Often, in formal or ritual situations, there are special rules or restrictions on how people talk. Here is where we may see cultural diversity. For example, in formal debates, or in church services, there are different rules concerning who is allowed to talk and when. (For full interview, log on to http://www.downtoearth.org.in)