The internet has the capability to bridge the cultural gap between the nations of the world. If chat language is more and more used eventually everyone will start speaking it and writing it. That means it will influence the culture and religion but also the history of a country- and of course the language of it too. This is good since there will be fewer arguments about differences. You will be able to understand each other since the chat language tends to shorten words people will communicate faster therefore have more time to do other, maybe more important, things.
The chat language is easier to learn, speak and write; therefore people who want to learn English will find it easier to learn. A lot of people now are learning this “language” instead of the formal and “proper” language since chatting is so widely used. Chatting is easier since lot of things are abbreviated, “th” into “d” for example. Also a lot rules in English are over-ruled by simpler rules or no rules at all. Since it is so easy and fast people use it often. In 2003, 440.8 billion mobile messages were sent: these messages were probably all written in chat language (also called slang nowadays).
Chat language is helping the world progress, and evolving is thought to be for the best since it reveals new horizons. Even though, we must bear in mind that once something has evolved it can never go back.
Chat language has also a myriad of negative effects. Right now, since it has recently been introduced, it is a real problem for teens. They use it with friends, therefore most of their time; now if they have to write an essay or formal piece of writing a lot of students will get confused with words. For example, instead of writing “you” they will simply write “u”, like they would in a text message. That will get them in trouble with teachers. That though is not the real issue; since young people are the ones who are going to “rule” the world in a couple of years if they speak like this they will influence others to do so as well.
More and more people are starting to learn slang English; that is easier but it is not proper so they will have problems communicating formally etc. an example are the new kids at the International School. Some of them do not speak English very well and are improving mostly by talking to their classmates who speak a kind of slang English. These new students will have difficulty in class when asked to say or write something by their teachers. Although these students will have problems in school, they are also learning about a new culture.
A more serious problem that the chat language is causing is that it is disintegrating the culture of countries; since a very important part, if not the main, of the culture of a country is the language. By using text language we are erasing the history of a country, because the language will tell a lot about it. For example which language has influenced the country: Greek, Latin etc. Also, if everyone starts speaking the same language with no real rules life will become monotonous and very boring.
In conclusion I think the chat language is affecting the world negatively. It is erasing important parts of our history, since the world is becoming so fast it is not very nice to make it even faster.
