Статья на тему: "Аббревиатуры в текстовых сообщениях"

Abbreviations in the text messages

Melanina E.S.

Stakhanov Pedagogical College

LNU named after Taras Shevchenko

Scientific Supervisor – Romanenko T. L.

Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations formed from the initial components in a phrase or a name. An abbreviation (from Latin brevis, meaning short) is a shortened form of a word or phrase[1, 5]. For example, the word abbreviation can itself be represented by the abbreviation abbr.

The aim of this article is to learn the role of abbreviations in modern English concerning not only business, education, science and technology but everyday life as well. Nowadays while we are texting and chatting in forums, in chat rooms we use a lot of acronyms and abbreviations. So, it is a good idea to be aware of their existence.

In the age of technology where cellular phones can send messages or “texts” as we call it, English and grammar professors are sure to flip in annoyance. Even on social networking sites like Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook, text abbreviations have become a habit of people posting or using the sites. Even though it is somehow unacceptable to the English correct spelling and usage, there are reasons why people use these abbreviations in their conversations on phones and websites [2, 53].

An abbreviation as we all know is how a longer word or phrase is shortened. For instance a texting abbreviation could be shortening the word 'later' to 'l8r' or 'mate' to 'm8'. There are simply loads of text abbreviations being used everyday and they can make your own text messages not only shorter but also cheaper because a shorter message does not overlap into a second that will charge you twice when you send it. These are very common forms of texting slang and are used by everyone from teenagers to the elderly.

There are lots of reasons why people use text abbreviations and we want to mention some of them.

Character limitations – A cellular phone text message usually holds only up to 140 characters per text. People who want to send long texts are forced to go for a second text to complete their message. Since texting has a corresponding cost, people have resorted to use shortcuts or text abbreviations to send a complete message in just one sent text [4].

Easier to type – Some people thinks it is easier to type the number 2 to indicate the words “to” or “too” or the number 4 as a substitute for the word “for” or “U” as word “you” and “C” to indicate the word “see”. Some words that are longer like “great” can be spelled as “gr8” or if you want to say, “I already ate,” you can text it as “I already 8” [3, 85].

It is an “in” thing – To most teenagers and kids, text abbreviations are the coolest thing to engage in. Besides, the fact that everyone’s sort of using it makes him or her think it is socially acceptable. If you do not know how to use these abbreviations, people would know you are a newbie and would dismiss you as an amateur or someone who is “uncool.”

Sometimes text abbreviations are confusing but people who use these everyday can easily understand them. You just need to read the words in their true pronunciation.

When you are sending a text message it can often be at a time when you are in a rush and want to keep it short and sweet, or that you just have something quick and simple to say. We have compiled a list of text message abbreviations that will have something in it for everyone. [4]

And there are lots of other abbreviations.

Here is an example of chat corresponding

So as we see texting abbreviations are not necessarily correct English and if you use them too much they can become to be a bit of a bad habit but they are incredibly useful when you are writing to friends on your cell phone. Whether it is a texting acronym such as 'lol' (laugh out loud), an abbreviated word such as 'l8r' (later) or a texting symbol such as the commonly used smiley face ':)' you can make a text message much more straight forward, colloquial and also personal for the recipient. As you see from the above list of common texting abbreviations and symbols that you really can shorten almost anything to include it in a text message.

Text message abbreviations do not just have to be used in a text message either, they can easily be implemented into emails between friends or even through the use of chat functions on social networking sites or the use of MSN or Yahoo messengers, texting slang is growing ever more popular across the world through these online methods of communication. Text abbreviations are used more widely now than they ever have been and their popularity continues to grow as is the case with text message symbols.

Of course we do not suggest that you go ahead and use any text abbreviations or text symbols in formal correspondence though, for instance if you work for a company where you have to send out letters and emails to customers they will not appreciate a 'lol' or ':)' when you are writing to them. This is mainly because most text message abbreviations are seen as slang and thus there is a time and a place for them and this is not through any means of formal correspondence.

As we see the know using of text abbreviations that we have can also be a very useful tool for parents that are trying to decipher the content of a child's email or text message in order to make sure that they are safe and not up to no good. What may have just looked like a jumble of letters and random texting symbols can all of a sudden become a lot clearer with the use of this website as these text abbreviations and text symbols are often a code for something they want to be hidden.

The used literature:

1. Даль В.И. Толковый словарь живого великорусского языка: В 4 т. - Спб., 1863-1866. – Т.1, с.5

2. New Hart's Rules: The handbook of style for writers and editors. Oxford University Press, 2005. – p.53

3. Stuart McKinlay, Bob Hastings Success: Pre-Intermediate Students’ Book – Pearson Longman, 2007. – p.85

4. http://www.learnenglish.de/abbreviations.htm