Digital History

When most people think of the word “digital,” they immediately associate it with terms like electronic, computerized, or technology. While it wouldn’t be completely wrong to think this way, we also must recognize the historical context of the word “digital”. 

The Historical Roots of “Digital”

  In the article Defining and Locating Digital Rhetoric, Doug Eyman references Angela Hass, who emphasizes that “digital” originally referred to our fingers, or our digits. Hass explains, “All writing is digital: digitalis in Latin, means “of or relating to the finger or toes” or “a coding of information.” Hass also mentions various historical forms of digital rhetoric such as the Mesopotamian Cuneiform, to Egyptian and Mayan hieroglyphs, to Chinese logograms, to Aztec Codices. These ancient forms of writing were physical, often created with the hands, yet they embody the essence of what we now call digital communication: systems of encoded information. 

Rethinking Technology

We can apply this same idea to the word “tech.” People often use the word technology synonymously with terms like electronic and computerized, but a pencil also qualifies as a form of technology. Although a pencil may seem like a simple device compared to a computer, there is in fact a lot that goes into the design of a pencil. The creation and production of a pencil requires knowledge of materials, graphite preparation and purification, wood carving, and more. This aligns with the definition of technology which refers to– machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge.  

Why does this matter?

So why is it important to understand the meaning of these words? The English language is constantly evolving, and by understanding the historical context and meaning behind terms like “digital” and “technology,” we gain a deeper appreciation of their broader meaning. This awareness deepens our understanding of how these concepts have shaped both the past and the present, reminding us that modern digital communication is built upon ancient practices of encoding information and creating meaning.

Read my latest blog post: Intertextuality, What Is It Exactly?