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Texting Language




Texting language (also known as '''txt''', '''txtspk''' or '''txt talk''') refers to the English Language Slang used on Mobile Phone SMS , although with the increasing prevalence of Predictive Text input, it is now less common. It is an abbreviated form of English, derived from Rebus , a writing system popular with Benjamin Franklin. It is similar to Leet , but without the Script Kiddie content. Another example of this is AOL Speak .

It evolved from the shorthand used in Internet Chatrooms due to the small number of characters allowed in a Text Message and the small Keyboard s on mobile phones.

The aim of ''txt'' is to reduce the number of characters needed to put across a meaning. One casualty of this principle is that Punctuation is widely disregarded.

TXT DEVICES

Single letters can be used to replace words. Examples include:
  • ''be'' becomes ''b''

  • ''see'' becomes ''c''

  • ''are'' becomes ''r''

  • ''you'' becomes ''u''

  • ''why'' becomes ''y''


Equally, single digits can be used to replace words. Examples include:
  • ''ate'' becomes ''8''

  • ''for'' becomes ''4''

  • ''to'', ''too'', or ''two'' becomes ''2''


Individual Syllable s can be replaced with a single letter or digit. Examples:
  • ''ate'' becomes ''8'', so:

  • --- ''activate'' becomes ''activ8''

  • --- ''great'' becomes ''gr8''

  • --- ''mate'' becomes ''m8''

  • --- ''later'' becomes ''l8r''

  • --- ''plate'' becomes ''pl8''

  • ''be'' becomes ''b''

  • ''for'' or ''Fore'' becomes ''4'', so:

  • --- ''before'' becomes (combining both of the above) ''b4''

  • --- ''therefore'' becomes ''there4''


More miscellaneous adaptions of characters include:
  • ''ss'' being replaced with ''$''

  • ''oo'' being replaced with ''%''


Combinations of the above can be used to shorten single or multiple words. Examples:
  • ''your'' and ''you are'' both become ''ur''


Other transcriptions of slang or dialect terms can be used if they are shorter than the original. A good example of this is the way in which ''because'', often pronounced as ''cos'' in English, is written like so, saving four characters.

Another device used in text language is the removal of vowels from a verb, such that a set of consonants remain, which should still be recognisable as a word. So, ''between'' could become ''btwn''.

Equally, whole words may be omitted, especially Articles .

Another device used, is the replacement of an 'orr' with the abbreviation 'oz'. Hence ''Sorry'' would become ''Soz'' and ''Tomorrow'' would become ''Tomoz''. This can be further abbreviated into ''2moz''.

'Sorry i forgot to phone you. I will see you tomorrow'

...would become...

''soz i 4gt 2 fon u.i c u 2moz''

The use of punctuation is limited. Only full-stops and exclamation marks are ever used in general. After a full stop, a space and capital letter is often ommitted.


ABBREVIATIONS


There are a number of txt abbreviations which are commonly recognised (these are not to be confused with Initialisms , which are also commonly used) and can be found in the list below, or can be found at transl8it! where the portal allows for translations made both to and from english:

  • afaik for ''as far as I know''

  • atm for ''at the moment''

  • bbl for ''be back later''

  • bf or ''b/f'' for ''boyfriend'' and ''gf'' or ''g/f'' for ''girlfriend''

  • brb for ''be right back''

  • btw for ''by the way''

  • cam for ''web camera''

  • cas for ''cracking a smile''

  • cnt for ''can't''

  • dnt for ''don't''

  • ffs for ''for fucks sake''

  • ftw for ''for the win''

  • fyi for ''for your information''

  • g2g or ''gtg'' for ''got to go''

  • g2p or ''gtp'' for ''got to pee''

  • gg no re for ''good game, no rematch''

  • gg for ''good game''

  • gj for ''good job''

  • gna for ''gonna'' or ''going to''

  • idc for ''i don`t care''

  • idk for ''i don`t know''

  • ily or ''ilu'' for ''i love you''

  • jic for ''just in case''

  • jk for ''just kidding''

  • k for ''okay''

  • kk for ''okay, cool''

  • kl for ''cool''

  • lol for ''laugh out loud''

  • lmao for ''laughing my ass off''

  • lm(m)fao for ''laughing my (mother) fucking ass off''

  • n for ''and'' (though often completely omitted)

  • np for ''no problem''

  • nw for ''no worries''

  • omfg for ''oh my fucking god''

  • omg for ''oh my god''

  • pita for ''pain in the ass''

  • pos for ''parents over shoulder'' or ''piece of shit''

  • q for ''question''

  • rofl for ''rolling on floor laughing''

  • rp for ''roleplay''

  • slp/slpn for ''sleep/sleeping''

  • sry or ''soz'' for ''sorry''

  • tc for ''Take Care''

  • thx ''thnx'' or ''ty'' for ''Thanks'' or ''Thank you''

  • tmr or ''tmz'' for ''tomorrow''

  • ttyl or ''ttul'' for ''Talk to you later''

  • tym for ''time''

  • w/ or ''w'' for ''with''

  • w/e for ''weekend'' or ''whatever''

  • w/o for ''without''

  • wb for ''welcome back''

  • wg for ''well good''

  • whteva for ''what ever''

  • wk for ''work'' or ''week''

  • wkd for ''wicked''

  • wt or ''wut'' for ''what''

  • wtf for ''what the fuck''

  • wubu2 for ''What you been up to?''

  • yw for ''you're welcome''

  • On MSN or other Instant Messengers, typing "9" is telling the other person that a parent or sibling is in the room, so they should start a new conversation about homework etc. Typing"99" lets the other person know the sibling/parent has gone.



EXAMPLES

Combining the above "techniques" can shorten whole sentences. Using website portals such as transl8it! a community of users has helped standardize this text speak by allowing users to submit translations, staking claim with their user handle, or to submit top messages and guess the lingo phrases. Using the free website service sms translations can are easily made both to and from english as sampled below:

Short messages can be made shorter still.
  • ''Are you going to the pub tonight?'' becomes ''ru goin pub 2nyt''


Longer messages may also be considerably shortened. A typical text message might read:
hi m8 u k?-sry i 4gt 2 cal u lst nyt-y dnt we go c film 2moz

::This is 61 characters long.
This would "translate" into Standard English as so:
Hi mate. Are you okay? I am sorry that I forgot to call you last night. Why don't we go and see a film tomorrow?

::This is 122 characters long.


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