Are emojis spoiling the English language?

They might look like harmless fun, but some people think they’re a problem.

Emojis are described as the fastest-growing form of communication in the world, with almost 3,000 different icons to choose from. Some people create entire phrases, sentences and responses just by using the pictographs (simple pictures or symbols). For example, sending the clock, pig and aeroplane emojis together creates the phrase when pigs fly (meaning that something is so unlikely it will never happen). However, the results of a survey by YouTube revealed that many people believe emojis are to blame for a decline in the English language, despite the fact that three quarters of those questioned say they now depend on them to communicate with each another. Is using these tiny symbols really spoiling the English language?

Yes–i t’s important to use proper English

Emojis might be useful to send a quick message, but using them instead of writing full sentences could mean that people get worse at spelling and grammar. Grammar in particular can be really tricky, and the less we write in proper English the more likely we are to get it wrong. Using emojis is lazy – it doesn’t involve any intelligent thought, whereas writing sentences does. If we start replacing words with emojis, perhaps one day we will have forgotten how to write great novels and poems. Another problem with emojis is that they can mean different things to different people, which can accidentally cause confusion or offence. A carefully written sentence is the clearest way to communicate.

No – emojis are quick, fun and easy

Language is constantly evolving, so it’s natural for it to change with the rise in digital communication. Besides, using pictures to communicate came long before emojis; for example, people of ancient Egypt used hieroglyphs – pictures used to represent words or sounds. Tapping out full words and sentences can take a long time, but sending emojis is quick and easy, so they’re perfect if you want to send a message in a hurry. Emojis are fun and inclusive; there are around 7,000 different spoken languages in the world but using emojis allows people who speak different languages to interact. Besides, you can use emojis and still be a great writer – it’s not a choice between one or the other.