Similarities and differences in sms, email, and chat language

Nowadays, chat, e-mail and sms have become our common tool of communication. These three tools have the equal importance to the society especially in a form of entertainment. Even though chat, sms and e-mail have become as a part and parcel of our life yet, we are not aware of them and just take for granted. If you observe what their functions are and take into account what are their effects, you will come up with unpredictable results. Unbelievable, chat, e-mail and sms have affected us socially especially our language.
The used of chat, e-mail and sms have clearly affected our language. But, there are still differences and similarities between chat, e-mail and sms language. Before I clarify about how they affect language, I will explain briefly the similarities and differences between chat, sms and e-mail technically. Firstly, chat is a program that permits for a one on one text chat with another person on the internet in a real time. Online chat is a synchronous conferencing in an internet chat room where the casual conversation or gossip is held. Secondly, e-mail is a store and forward method of composing, sending, storing and receiving messages over electronic communication system. Lastly, sms is a service available on most digital mobile phones that allows the sending of short messages between mobile phones. As from the definition itself we are able to see the differences and the similarities.
As we known, in order to send and receive e-mail, we need to have an internet connection and e-mail account. This way is totally differed from sms because to send and receive sms we need to have phone number on any mobile provider. But, for chat you need to have online friends which are connected to the internet at the same time with you. This shows that e-mail has an asynchronous character compare to sms and chat which are synchronous. Other differences that we can see is that sms message are limited to between 80 to 500 characters depending on the service provider. A typical sms message weighs in at about 160 characters. On the other hand, chatting only involves text and numeral display but the message or the words send are not limited. Moreover, refers to cost effective, sms is more convenient for it costs less compare to e-mail and chat which they need to pay more because of the network used along with an internet access. Besides that, sms is more practical compare to e-mail and chat. Practical here means sms is easier as we can message anytime for example while waiting for the bus and anywhere even in the toilet depends on its coverage and network. These are some technical similarities and differences between e-mail, chat and sms.
Now, let’s look at how language is affected by chat, e-mail and sms. Language of chat, e-mail and sms do not bound to any writing’s rules and regulations. Chat, e-mail and sms share same characteristics in term of language. The characteristics are:
a) salutation: sender used improper and informal salutations even in chat, e-mail
and sms depend on their moods.
b) code switching: in multi races country of course there will be many code
switching used in these three types of communication
c) smileys: interference of smileys in chat, e-mail and sms is a must.
d) there are many non-standard spelling for instance ‘d’ which is ‘the’,
'gal’ which is ‘girl’.
e) many contracted forms such as I’ve, She’s.
f) shortforms: the language used in these three types of communication consist
of many shortcuts. However, some of the shortcuts or shortforms may turn to be acronyms
or symbols. For instance, CUL as if in See You Later, IMO as if in In My Opinion and etc are
acronyms as they are shortforms that pronouncable. Other shortcuts that turn to become
symbols are BRB( be right back), CUL ( see you later), IMO (In my opinion) and etc.
g) the language used in chat, e-mail and sms are simple and improper. They
seem not to bound to any grammar rules.The language is more concise and
precise as if to be more straight to the point.
h) trailing dots: chat, e-mail and sms used many trailing dots depends on the user to convey
their feelings, mood and etc.
The only difference is:
a) E-mail and sms can be used in a formal way for instance to send invitation.
b) Chat is only used as the mean of communication and entertainment. Never used chat to
communicate formally.

As a conclusion, I really hope that with this information given will make us aware that sometimes technology not only do contribute to the development of the country economically but socially as well.