Textese or SMS language (also known as chatspeak, txt, txtspk, txtk, texting language or txt talk) is the English language slang used in mobile phone SMS, social networks and instant messaging. It is an abbreviated form of English similar to a rebus. With predictive text input increasingly being used, it is becoming less common.[citation needed] This type of language does not always obey or follow standard English grammar; furthermore, the words used in the writing system can't be found in standard dictionaries.
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Significance
The objective of textese is to use the fewest number of characters needed to convey a comprehensible message. Hence, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization are largely ignored.
The dialect has a few hieroglyphs (codes comprehensible to initiates) and a range of face symbols.[1] According to a study, though it is faster to write it takes more time to read than normal English.[2] According to a research done by Dr.Nanagh Kemp of University of Tasmania, suggests that the evolution of ‘textese’ is inherently coupled to a strong grasp of grammar and phonetics.[3]
History
Textese is a nascent dialect of English that subverts letters and numbers to produce ultra-concise words and sentiments.[4] The invention of mobile phone messages may be considered as its source, although elliptical styles of writing dating back to at least the days of telegraphese. There are no standard rules for writing SMS languages, and a lot of words can also be shortened, such as "text" then turns into "txt". Words can also be combined with numbers to make them shorter, such as "later" turns into "l8er". Its speed in which they can be written and helps in using fewest number of letters, and helps in dealing with space constraints of text messaging.
It is similar to AOL speak and Telex speak, and has evolved from the shorthand use in Internet chatrooms to accommodate the small number of characters allowed (early SMS permitted only 160 characters and some carriers charge messages by the number of characters sent), and as a convenient language for the small keyboards on mobile phones.
Vocabulary
Single letters can replace words
- be becomes b
- see becomes c
- are becomes r
- you becomes u
- why becomes y
Single digits can replace words
- ate becomes 8
- for becomes 4
- to or too becomes 2
A single letter or digit can replace a syllable
- ate becomes 8, so:
- great becomes gr8
- mate becomes m8
- later becomes l8r or l8a
- skate becomes sk8
- skater becomes sk8r
- tomorrow becomes 2mro
- for or fore becomes 4, so:
- before becomes (combining both of the above) b4
- therefore becomes thr4
Combinations of the above can shorten a single or multiple words
- Your and You're both become ur or yr
Characters and punctuation can be removed to shorten messages
- -in can replace -ing in most cases, similar to that in vocal slang.
- For example, coming becomes comin and txting becomes txtin
- Vowels can be removed such that the sequence of consonants remain and the word is still recognizable.
- For example, between becomes btwn or b/w and yearbook becomes yrbk.
- Another example: Sorry becomes sry
- Or: Are you there becomes r u thr
- Whole words may be omitted, especially articles.
- “/” can signify abbreviation, such as w/ for with and s/t for something.
Common Abbreviations
| Word or Phrase | Abbreviation(s) |
|---|---|
| Account | acc |
| Address | addy |
| At the moment | atm |
| Be right back | brb |
| Be back later | bbl |
| Be back soon | bbs |
| Because | cuz, bcuz, bcz, bcos, bc, cos, coz or bcoz |
| Best friend or Boy friend | bf or b/f |
| Best friend(s) for life | bffl |
| Best friend(s) forever | bff |
| By the way | btw |
| Can't be assed | cba |
| Comment me back | cmb (usually used for social networking sites) |
| Definitely | def |
| Don't worry | dw |
| Forever | 4eva or 4evr |
| For your information | fyi |
| Friend | frend or frnd |
| Got to go | g2g or gtg |
| Have a nice day | H.A.N.D. |
| Hold on | hld on or h/o |
| Homework | hw, hwk or hmwk |
| How are you | hru |
| I don't care | idc |
| I don't know | idk |
| I do what I want | idwiw |
| I love you | ily, luv u, ilu, or luv ya |
| If I recall correctly or If I remember correctly | iirc |
| In my opinion | imo |
| In my humble opinion | imho |
| Jokes | jks |
| Just for laughs | jfl |
| Just joking | jj |
| Just kidding | jk |
| Just to let you know | jtlyk or j2luk |
| Know | kno or noe |
| Kiss my teeth | kmt |
| Kiss my ass | kma |
| Laugh out loud | lol |
| Lots of love | lol |
| Laughing my ass off | lmao |
| Laughing my fucking ass off | lmfao |
| Laughing quietly to myself | lqtm |
| Message (as in a text message) | msg |
| Never mind | nm or nvm (depending on context used) |
| No problem | np |
| No thank you | no tnk u, nty, no ty |
| Not much | nm (depending on context used) |
| Obviously | ovvi or obv |
| Of course | ov cors or ofc |
| Oh My God | omg or (comically) zomg |
| Parents over shoulder | pos |
| Please | plz or plez |
| Probably | probz, prbly, prolly, or prob |
| Love | <3 or luv |
| Peace | pce, pece, or \/ (V sign) |
| Right | rite |
| Rolling on the floor laughing (out loud) | rofl(ol) |
| Rolling on (the) floor laughing my ass off | roflmao or rotflmao |
| See you/see you later | cya, cu, or cya/cu l8er/l8a |
| Shut the fuck up | stfu |
| Something | sth, s/t, or sumthin |
| Son of a bitch | sob |
| Sorry | sry, "soz", or "sori" |
| Talk to you later | ttyl |
| Tata for now | ttfn |
| says | ses or sez |
| Text | txt |
| Text back | txt bck or tb |
| Thanks | thanx, thx, or fnx |
| Thank you | ty or "thnk u" |
| Thank you very much | tyvm |
| Tomorrow | tom, 2moz, 2moro, 2mrw or 2mara |
| To be honest | tbh |
| Welcome Back | wb |
| What | wat, wut, wht, or wha |
| Whatever | w/e or wateva |
Frequency of use
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (August 2008) |
In one American study, researchers found that less than 20% of messages used SMS language.[5]
In a collection gathered by linguist David Crystal, just 10% of messages used SMS language [5].
The use of txt in school exams
There have been some reports in the media of children using SMS language for essays in school:
- (16 August 2002). “Examiner's warning over exams culture”. BBC.
- (4 March 2003). “Is txt mightier than the word?”. BBC.
- November 2006. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority discourages the use of text abbreviations after suggesting that they may be used in certain subjects provided they're clearly show the required understanding. NZQA Press statement [1]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.newstatesman.com/society/2008/07/gr8-db8-crystal-texting-txtng
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE4B90YA20081210?rpc=64
- ^ http://www.mobilemessaging2.com/2008/12/12/textese-mobility-and-the-evolution-of-language/
- ^ http://www.newsweek.com/id/150449
- ^ a b Crystal, David (2008-07-05). "2b or not 2b?". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved on 2008-07-08.
- Rai, Himanshu (30 October 2005). “Thumbs Up!”. New Straits Times, p. F14.
Relevant literature
External links
- 2b or not 2b?
- David Crystal - Guardian Unlimited - 5 July 2008.
- This lengthy article talks about the rise of SMS messaging, the language used, precedents for abbreviated language in English and links to further contributions on the subject by Will Self and Lynne Truss.
- David Crystal - Guardian Unlimited - 5 July 2008.