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SMS language (also known as chatspeak, txt, txtspk, txtk, texting language or txt talk) is the English language slang used in mobile phone SMS. 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. 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. 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. 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 some carriers charge messages by the number of characters sent), and as a convenient language for the small keyboards on mobile phones. Without practice, sending SMS messages can be time consuming.[citation needed]
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The objective of txt is to use the fewest number of characters needed to convey a comprehensible message. Hence, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization are largely ignored.
Text Devices
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
- Are you there becomes r u there or r u dere
- Love or Heart becomes <3
- For example, Sorry becomes sry
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.
- 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.
Abbreviations
Account becomes acc
Address becomes addy
At the moment becomes atm
Be right back becomes brb
Be back later becomes bbl
Be back soon becomes bbs
Because becomes cuz, bcuz, bcz, bcos, bc, cos, coz or bcoz
Best friend or Boy friend becomes bf or b/f
Potally Texy becomes pt
Best friend(s) for life becomes bffl
Best friend(s) forever becomes bff
By the way becomes btw
Can't be assed becomes cba
Comment me back becomes cmb (usually used for social networking sites)
Definitely becomes def
Don't worry becomes dw
Forever becomes 4eva or 4evr
For your information becomes fyi
Friend becomes frend
Got to go becomes g2g or gtg
Have a nice day becomes H.A.N.D.
Hold on becomes hld on or h/o
Homework becomes hw, hwk or hmwk
How are you becomes hru
I don't care becomes idc
I don't know becomes idk
I do what I want becomes idwiw
I love you becomes ily, luv u, ilu, or luv ya
If I recall correctly or If I remember correctly becomes iirc
In my opinion becomes imo
In my humble opinion becomes imho
Jokes becomes jks
Just for laughs becomes jfl
Just joking becomes jj
Just kidding becomes jk
Just to let you know becomes jtlyk or j2luk
Know becomes kno or noe
Kiss my teeth becomes kmt
Kiss my ass becomes kma
Laugh out loud becomes lol
Lots of love becomes lol
Laughing my ass off becomes lmao
Laughing my fucking ass off becomes lmfao
Laughing quietly to myself becomes lqtm
Message (as in a text message) becomes msg
Never mind becomes nm or nvm (depending on context used)
No problem becomes np
"No thank you" becomes "nty" or "no ty"
Not much becomes nm (depending on context used)
Obviously becomes ovvi or obv
Of course becomes ov cors or ofc
Oh my god becomes omg or (comicly) zomg
Parents over shoulder becomes pos
Please becomes plz or plez
Probably becomes probz, prbly, prolly, or prob
Love becomes <3 or luv
Peace becomes pce, pece, or \/ (V sign)
Right becomes rite
Rolling on the floor laughing (out loud) becomes rofl(ol)
Rolling on (the) floor laughing my ass off becomes roflmao or rotflmao
Red Hot Chili Peppers becomes RHCP
See you/see you later becomes cya, cu, or cya/cu l8er/l8a
Shut the fuck up becomes stfu
Something becomes sth, s/t, or sumthin
Son of a bitch becomes sob
Sorry becomes sry, "soz", or "sori"
Talk to you later becomes ttyl
Tata for now becomes ttfn
says becomes ses or sez
Text becomes txt
Text back becomes txt bck or tb
Thanks becomes thanx, thx, or fnx
Thank you becomes ty or "thnk u"
Thank you very much becomes tyvm
Through The Fire And Flames becomes ttfaf
Tomorrow becomes tom, 2moz, 2moro, 2mrw or 2mara
To be honest becomes tbh
Welcome Back becomes wb
What becomes wat, wut, wht, or wha
Whatever becomes w/e or wateva
No thank you becomes no tnk u or no ty
Frequency of use
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (August 2008) |
In one American study, researchers found that less than 20% of messages used SMS language.[1]
In a collection gathered by linguist David Crystal, just 10% of messages used SMS language [1].
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.
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.
