Internet Language,a New Linguistic Medium

The Internet is one of the most remarkable things human beings have ever made. It is having incredible influences on every respect of our life. The Internet brings us not only a technological revolution, but also a cultural and linguistic revolution. Under this circumstance, Internet language, a new linguistic medium, has been catching on. Some linguists even predict that "Web Linguistics", a new branch of linguistics, is coming into being. There are still, however, commonly-held complaints or anxieties about this language change. Some hold that our language is on the edge of decline.This study attempts to discuss, from the point of view of language change and development, the ways in which the electronic medium is having an effect on language. In so doing, the characteristics and usages of Internet language are analyzed.