Derrick de Kerckhove, Part 2: Language - an adventure

A long time ago, language was married to the body, then it was married to writing – and today, it is married to electricity. The digital age is the third big adventure language has imposed on mankind. We should accept this challenge as a positive one and handle it creatively.

In the first part of this interview, scientist and author Derrick de Kerckhove deals with cyberspace and the phenomenon of real space versus mental space on the basis of Stelarc’s and Hiroshi Ishiguro’s groundbreaking performances.

The system of language in the digital age

In the second part, Derrick de Kerckhove examines the most complex system ever: language. What happens when language and electricity meet? With a highly interesting approach based on historical science, de Kerckhove explains vividly what happens to us in this time of digital transition. Maximum complexity meets maximum speed, and everybody is part of this historical process language inevitably is subjected to. Are we aware of this revolutionary time, are we using it well? Who owns language?

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