DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND DIGITAL HUMANITIES: FOCUS ON LANGUAGE AND LITERARY STUDIES

Abstract

The ubiquitous digital transformation across various sectors has significantly impacted the humanities and necessitated a shift in how scholars approach research, teaching, and engagement with their disciplines. This paper explores the historical context of digital transformation in the humanities, examining early resistance to computers and the gradual integration of digital tools from the 1950s onwards. It surveys the current landscape and highlights the ubiquity of digital technologies in daily life and their influence on humanities research and practices, particularly in language and literary studies. The discussion extends to the specific transformations within these fields, with illustrations on how digitalisation has led to new language forms and revolutionised literary analysis. Further, the paper identifies both opportunities and challenges presented by digital technologies, such as access to large digital archives, innovative data analysis methods, and the potential over-reliance on technology that risks diminishing the human element central to the humanities. It also addresses emerging trends and technologies that are shaping the future of humanities scholarship, and emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the acquisition of digital competencies by humanities scholars. For humanities scholars to adapt to these changes, the paper advocates educational reforms and research innovations that incorporate digital tools and methodologies. It underscores the importance of balancing digital advancements with the preservation of humanistic values, to ensure that the humanities continue to provide critical insights into the human experience in the digital age. This comprehensive examination concludes with a call for humanities scholars to embrace digital technologies while maintaining their commitment to the core principles of their disciplines.