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 SMS language and includes some examples of text messages, with some popular text message abbreviations (also known as SMS dictionary). 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 about shorter words, fewer characters to type (crucial for speed, for example, as well as space in Facebook and Twitter status updates!) But then it’s about of knowing some well-established SMS Shortcuts too – 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 with…

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

😉 – wink (in case you didn’t know!)

NB freak is more often replaced with a different word starting with F! If you understand me!

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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 ​​the communication that exists, by phone or online…