Friday, 29 March 2013

Let's talk about text



Online chatting and text talk- what does it mean? If you have anything to do with teenagers you may feel text talk is a kind of secret code. '9' means a parent is watching. 'BTW' -by the way  '99' means they're gone. 'Tbh' - to be honest - I don’t hate text talk but here is something to consider. Our language, in fact all language has evolved over the course of countless generations. New words and phrases appear as suited to humankinds needs for communication in every aspect of our lives. We may as well go with the flow 'gwtf' and learn to accept change is inevitable. Some text talk is funny and you can get caught up in its allure and ultimately find yourself using it.

'Idc' -I don't care I hear you say.  It aint proper English this strange abbreviated talk. Here are a few of my favourites. '?4u' -I have a question for you as opposed to '?' which still means a stock standard question.
'Yolo'- You only live once as opposed to 'oloy' -only losers obey Yolo. Apparently swag means secretly we are gay. I thought it meant to have attitude -my gaffe has caused some laughs on Face book. We all know wtf? '143' means I love you or 'ILY' means it too. '1432' is right back at you. Opposingly '182' is I hate you and '2g2bt' is too good to be true. '404' is I haven't a clue but that's okay because '@teotd' at the end of the day text talk is still a form of communication. 'Hoyew' hanging on your every word.

If you want to learn what's being said and what it means try:

Or, just Google text talk.

Consider the latest mobile 'app' -application, which was sold for 28 million to Yahoo. It summarises lengthy amounts of news into bullet form concise information- hence its name Summly. I think it encapsulates what is sought after by almost everyone who is breathing. The apps' advert states:

"Beautiful and concise summary
Simple, intuitive and elegant. Summly redefines news for the mobile world with algorithmically generated summaries from hundreds of sources. Innovative gestures, animations and great summaries make reading news fun: easy to use, easy to scan, easy to read, clear and concise."



There is so much information for people to process it makes sense that new forms of language are being generated. Consider handwritten letters of old being comprised of lengthy sentences and formal tones. Mail took days or months to reach their destinations. Modern day communication comprises of instantaneous conversation over long distances and we still can't get our speech out quick enough.


'Ty'- thank-you or '10x' and 'ttfn'- tata for now'. I’ve 'g2g'- got to go and don’t forget to use those emoticons. :-)  Smiley face…. because with this new abbreviated language how does anybody know what anyone means? :-(  (Unsmiley face).

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