Document Type : Original Article
Abstract
Language has always played an important role in the construction and expression of identity. This role has become even more significant in the current age of information and communication technology. One of the main reasons for the ever increasing role of language in the construction and expression of identity is the fact that other indicators of identity such as sex, race, nationality, color, and geographical location have been marginalized as a result of the influences of information and communication technologies. The internet, in particular, has revolutionized the processes of identity construction and expression. These changes are, to a great extent, due to the complex interactions between language, identity, and the internet.
The present study attempts to explore these complex relationships. It first explains the role of language and the internet in the construction and expression of identity. Then it enumerates some of the most important features of the language used for communication through the internet. Finally, it refers to some of the educational consequences of unequal access to the internet and offers some suggestions for the better use of modern technology and for further research in this area.
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