Davidson and the language of new media

Abstract This article claims that attempts to define the language of new media (LNM) as a unique linguistic phenomenon face problems stemming from a definition of language that takes knowledge of linguistic rules to be essential for understanding. I suggest that Davidson's later philosophy of language, as outlined in his 1986 paper 'A nice derangement of epitaphs', and especially his rejection of traditional definitions of language and understanding, offers an enlightening and important insight to the question of how understanding is achieved by the LNM. Although preceding the digital era, I argue that Davidson's redefinition of linguistic understanding as not necessarily rule dependent enables us to better understand our linguistic time in general and the LNM in particular.