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 overview of the SMS language and includes some text message examples, with some popular text message abbreviations (aka SMS dictionary). And as you read it, I hope this article in SMS language enlightens rather than irritates you.
Remember, it is not only on mobile phones that this SMS language is popping up these days:
* Facebook and Twitter updates are equally likely to have abbreviated sentences that might seem nonsensical to many
* Instant messaging software like Skype often sees people typing in “txt speak”
* And online forum posts, where everyone is in such a hurry (or people just don’t know any better), are often riddled with these so-called text message abbreviations.
So while you’ll be gritting your teeth soon (as you read this SMS-language article), remember that it * helps * to know a little bit of this txt lingo …
EXAMPLES OF TEXT MESSAGES
Okay, here are some text message examples that include some classic cell phone abbreviations:
1) My vacation from smmr wr CWOT
2) I wntd 2 go hm asap, 2C my M8 again
Believe it or not, these SMS examples were taken from an English essay sent by a 13-year-old British teenager. At school. Seriously! 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 colleagues again
You could easily make up an SMS example or two, removing vowels and shortening words as much as possible – lk ths, uc! – but I think this genuine example of SMS has a more educational value.
Yes, this is how the language of SMS is composed: it is about reducing 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 knowing some SMS shortcuts too, I guess you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. And that’s where text message abbreviations, also known as ‘SMS dictionary’, come into play.
Here is a very short example of what I mean:
SMS DICTIONARY
Boyfriend
Bride
D8 – date
L8 – afternoon
U – you
LMAO – laugh at my ass
MAOI – in my arrogant opinion
IMHO, IMHO
(Er, IMHO, opinions should always be humble! ;-))
And finally, here are some txt msg abrs messages for you to nod in agreement with …
TEXT MESSAGE ABBREVIATIONS
BRB – I’ll be right back
RUT – are you there?
LOL – laugh out loud
MTE – my thoughts exactly
OMG – OMG!
AFZ – acronym for free zone (!)
FFS – by * freak * sake
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 that starts with F! If you understand my drift!
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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 the same time. Don’t panic!
Still, these examples of SMS messages give an idea of ​​the communication that exists, by phone or online …
