SMS language (also known as chatspeak, txt, txtspk, texting language or txt talk) is the English language slang used in mobile phone SMS. It is an abbreviated form of English known as a rebus. With predictive text input increasingly being used, it is becoming less common. This type of language has been alleged to not obey or follow standard English grammar; furthermore, the words used in this language can't be found in standard dictionaries. 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. SMS 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 as a convenient language for the small keyboards on mobile phones. Without practice, sending SMS messages can be time consuming. The objective of txt is to use the fewest number of characters needed to put across a comprehensible message. Hence, punctuation and grammar are largely ignored.
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txt devices
Single letters can replace words. Examples:
- be becomes b
- see becomes c
- are becomes r
- you becomes u
- why becomes y
- and becomes n
Single digits can replace words. Examples:
- ate becomes 8
- for becomes 4
- to or too becomes 2
A single letter or digit can replace a syllable. Examples:
- ate becomes 8, so:
- activate becomes activ8
- great becomes GR8
- mate becomes m8
- later becomes l8r/l8a
- plates becomes pl8s
- skater becomes sk8r/sk8a
- for or Fore becomes 4, so:
- before becomes (combining both of the above) b4
- therefore becomes der4
There are miscellaneous adaptations of characters. Examples: However, these are fairly uncommon for the pure reason that they take even longer to type than the originals for the average typist.
- ss becomes $
- oo becomes %
- '-orr-' becomes '-oz'
- For example, Sorry becomes Soz, and Tomorrow becomes Tomoz (further abbreviated to 2moz and later to 2mz).
Combinations of the above can shorten a single or multiple words. Example:
- your and you're both become ur
Characters and punctuation are removed to shorten messages:
- Vowels are removed such that the sequence of consonants remain and the word is still recognisable.
- For example, between becomes btwn and "yearbook" becomes "yrbk".
- Whole words may be omitted, especially articles.
- Punctuation may be removed; only question mark and exclamation marks are generally used. The space and capital letter is often omitted after a period.
"/" signifies abbreviation, such as "w/" for "with" and "s/t" for "something". Other transcriptions of slang or dialect terms can be used if shorter than the original words, as in cos (with fewer letters than because.) Other text or txt "Sorry" is "Sry" or " soz" "Text" is "txt" "Talk to you later" is "ttyl" "Laugh out loud" is "lol" "Please" is "plz" "Forever" is "4eva" "I don't know" is "idk" "Homework" is "hw" "rolling on the floor laughing" is "Rofl" "Roflmao"" is "Rolling on floor, laughing my ass off" "Got to go" is "g2g" or "gtg" "text back" is "txt bck" "be right back" is "brb" "i love you" is "ily" "hold on" is "hld on" "whatever" is "w/e" "comment me back" is "cmb" (used for myspace, facebook, myyearbook, etc.) "of course" is "ov cors" " Oh my god" is "omg"
Abbreviations
There are a number of commonly recognised txt abbreviations which can be found in the list below, or at transl8it!, which allows for translations to and from English. hello becomes hi i don't care becomes idc i don't know becomes IDK
The use of txt in school exams
There have been some reports in the media of children using SMS language for essays in school:
- (August 16, 2002). "Examiner's warning over exams culture". BBC.
- (March 4, 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
- Rai, Himanshu (October 30, 2005). "Thumbs Up!". New Straits Times, p. F14.
