Text Talk

It could be projected that arthritis of the thumb is likely to become the ailment of our generation. As a generation who thrive on instantaneous responses (often facilitated through mobile phones), the strain placed on one's thumbs is colossal compared to previous generations.

Yet despite the pressure imposed on thumbs worldwide, texting, messaging, SMSing - whatever you care to call it - has become one of the leading methods of communication in the 21st century, and the language of SMS is arguably taking over what we once knew as the typical English language.

Youngsters are increasingly substituting an actual giggle for words such as 'LOL' (laugh out loud, yelling over their shoulder 'BRB' (be right back) instead of using the extended version of the phrase as they dash off.

Is it sheer laziness that has brought on this increased use of ellipses, or does it signify a natural shift in the nature of the English language that reflects the contemporary times (i.e. where people are always harried and rushing)?

Some point toward the illogical processes and pointless exceptions contained within the English language, and contend that young people are helping the evolution of spelling; helping to make communication shorter, more easily pronounced and understood - thereby influencing the current trend of shortening words and phrases.

The impact of 'text talk' continues in the classroom, with teachers worldwide throwing up their hands in vain as they struggle to read student essays that read something like:

My Smmr hols wr a CWOT. B4 we used 2go 2 NY 2c my bro, his gf & thr 3 :-O kids F2F. I {^} NY tis a gr8 plc.

For those not fortunate enough to be fluent in text-speak, that translates to, "My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York. It's a great place".

This creation of this somewhat new 'global language' has become swept up with the speed of globalsiation, transcending national borders to exist in similar abbreviated, shortened forms throughout Australia, New Zealand, America, through Europe and surprisingly all over the Scandinavian countries.

In the five billion text messages exchanged each day, this new 'global language' is being fashioned by the second, readily incorporating new abbreviations such as ROFL (rolling on floor laughing), TTYL (talk to you later), plus many more that will often leave the reader pondering the intended meaning for quite some time!

This alteration (questionably bastardization) of language has been termed by academics Grinter & Palen (2002) as the "Phonological Revolution", a revolution that has changed the dynamics of how we interact inter-personally. Their research reveals that many of us are far more comfortable divulging information and revealing personal feelings through SMS, suggesting that 'I love you' is increasingly occurring more in texts than it is being said in reality.

Ultimately the English language is evolutionary. Just as new words are created to fill existing voids, words fade from use when they are no longer relevant. Whilst many continue to clutch onto the 'romantic' notion of the old English use by Shakespeare and his types, others argue that it would be equally romantic to receive a text that stated:

'I wuv u, b mine 4eva!'

By the technologically-confused author who is currently under-going physiotherapy for her over-worked thumb,

Rachel Flitman