The Internet and the Language of Chat Rooms Case: A Case Study of the Uses of Arabic Language in Paltalk Program

Abstract

By studying and analyzing Arabic chat rooms of the internationally known program named Paltalk, and by implementing ethnographic method, this study aims at demonstrating and displaying social impacts of the Internet on the uses of the Arabic language. In addition, it seeks to identify the form and nature of the language which used in chat rooms. This study ends with the following findings in regards to the language of chat rooms: - There are many differences between our daily language and the language of chat rooms, mainly in the form aspects more than in the content ones. - These differences are related to the nature of the computer mediated communication, which differs to a great extent from that of the face to face communication. - The language of chat rooms has many characteristics such as repetition of letters and words, the use of signs and icons, and mixing Arabic language with English one, or writing Arabic language in English letters. - This language has gained from the facilities of computer's programs such as using different colors and fonts, underlining words and sentences, and finally drawing