Why do a lot of Greeks write in Greeklish?

Question

I have found on a lot of sites that Greek people seem to prefer writing Greeklish rather than using Greek alphabet letters. Why is this. I am learning Greek using the Greek symbols and find it confusing.
It also makes it more difficult using translators as I have to translate from Greeklish to Greek then Greek to english
It seems easier using greeklish to me as it conceals spelling mistakes.

Answer 1

There are several reasons actually:

They are using a computer that does not have Greek installed.

They have never learned who to write in Greek (a lot of Greeks that were born abroad, while can speak it do not know how to write)

They cannot spell properly: Spelling in Greek can be very frustrating (I for once can spell much better English than Greek) but if you write Greeklish everything goes, so you are covered.

Answer 2

Kimon is absolutely right. So far as the barbarization of Greek is concerned I agree with Angela M. In all languages including English, Chinese and even French that I know of, there is a "third" language created, using latin symbols and having an Esperando-like effect. Abbreviations and acronyms such as lol, btw, brb are part of the evolving "Internetese".
There is no danger that the Kazantzakis' and Papadiamantis' of the future will cease to exist because of Greeklish.

Answer 3

I don't think that using greeklish threatens our language. It's just a convenient writing system used online-as far as I'm aware. I don't find any reason to make so much fuss about it. There are other thinks that may look more threatening, but still, as long as there are Greek people -and taking the fact that languages evolve and change into account- then I don't feel we should worry about the future of our language.

Answer 4

I don't know why but a lot of times especially in emails the programs don't acknowledge Greek characters. So "Greeklish" comes in really handy.
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But this is the first time I've ever seen it called "Greeklish" Thanks for the heads up.

Answer 5

Nana Mouskorri

Answer 6

We do that on the internet because sometimes computers, especially abroad, have trouble reading the Greek alphabet, if they haven't loaded it.

Answer 7

If someone's expressed views, backed by hard evidence, regardless of the signs he uses, are considered vandalism then where is the so called freedom of speech?
If the point of the writer's text is better understood by the recipients of his communication, he can just as well use emoticons or acronyms.
Although I don't like using Greeklish, sometimes its use is imperative, in order to make some text limited to a few chosen recipients.
And anyhow, its use can not be considered vandalism, especially by those who use it openly, nor can it be compared to the vandalism done to our cultural heritage by spraying monuments.
I can understand your predicament to have to face two alphabets for the same language,but just imagine the problem you'll face, if what I wrote was in Greek and your computer was not fitted to recognize it. Wouldn't you feel frustrated?

Answer 8

its easier while you are typing in English, cause you avoid switching on and off the language button

secondly Greeklish is for quick writing, cause you avoid spelling mistakes and putting symbols like " ' " and " over characters

moreover, many sites, blogs etc dont recognize Greek characters and so the postings in Greek just arent readable!

Finally I want to say that Vandalism is reflecting not on the characters / letters you choose to write, but WHAT your writtings are, what you are saying through those characters

Regards

Answer 9

personally I use it bc Greek characters may not be recognized by the computer...

also my cell gets more characters/SMS if you write in English...

Answer 10

i find it vandalism in our language, but it is the only way to express something here, even if i dont agree.So, i prefere either greek or english..