Is the language of SMS taking over the English-speaking world?
Is it also taking over the non-English speaking world? Well, this article is a short introduction to the SMS language and includes some examples of text messages, with some popular text message abbreviations (aka SMS dictionary) included as well. And, as you read it, I hope this article on SMS language enlightens rather than irritates.
Remember, it’s not just on mobile phones that this SMS language is showing up these days:
*Facebook and Twitter updates are equally likely to have abbreviated sentences that might seem meaningless to many.
* Instant messaging software like Skype often sees people typing in “txt talk”
* And online forum posts, where everyone is in such a hurry (or people just don’t know any better), are often read with so-called text message abbreviations.
So, even if you’re gritting your teeth soon (while reading this article on SMS language), remember that it *is* useful to know a bit of this txt lingo…
EXAMPLES OF TEXT MESSAGES
Well, here are some examples of text messages that include some classic cell phone abbreviations:
1) My vacation smmr wr CWOT
2) I want 2 go ASAP, 2C my M8 again
Believe it or not, these SMS examples were taken from an English essay submitted by a 13-year-old British teenager. At school. Really! And its meaning, of course, is…
1) My summer vacation was a complete waste of time
2) I wanted to go home as soon as possible, to see my classmates again.
I could easily make up one or two SMS examples, dropping the vowels and shortening the words as much as possible: lk ths, uc! – but I think this genuine SMS example has more educational value.
Yes, that’s how SMS language is made up: it’s all about word reduction, fewer characters to type (crucial for speed, for example, as well as space in Facebook and Twitter status updates!) But then it’s about getting to know some well-established SMS Shortcuts as well – no need to reinvent the wheel, I suppose. And that’s where shorthand for text messages, also known as ‘SMS dictionary’, comes in.
Here is a very short example of what I mean:
SMS DICTIONARY
BF – boyfriend
girlfriend
D8 – date
L8 – late
y-you
LMAO – laugh my ass off
MAOI – in my opinion arrogant
IMHO – IMHO
(Hey, IMHO, opinions should always be humble! ;-))
And finally, here are some short text messages to get you nodding in agreement withโฆ
TEXT MESSAGE ABBREVIATIONS
BRB – I’ll be right back
RUT- are you there?
LOL – laugh out loud
MTE – my thoughts exactly
My God – My God!
AFZ – acronym free zone (!)
FFS – for the sake of *freak*
2M2H – too much to handle
2MI – too much information
IK- I know
:-* – Kiss
:-@ – Screaming
O:-) – holy
๐ – wink (in case you didn’t know!)
NB freak is more often replaced with a different word starting with F! If you understand me!
—
As with all languages, the language of SMS is constantly evolving, and only a few of the thousands of words/phrases/shortcuts available will be in common use at any given time. So don’t panic!
Still, these examples of SMS messages give an idea of โโthe communication that exists, by phone or online…