The English language is changing all the time and one change which has happened recently is the use of text messages. Text messages are written messages sent between mobile phones. Because text messages can only be very short and only use a fixed amount of character spaces a 'new' form of English has evolved to be used in text messages. Do you use text messages? These abbreviations are also used in internet chat rooms.

12 = want to                                                                                                                يريد   

2 = to                                                                                                  لكي

2day = today                                                                                                               اليوم

2moro = tomorrow                                                                                                      غدا

4 = for                                                                                                                          لاجل

@ = at                                                                                                                            في

afaik = as far as I know                                                                                ابعد مما اعرف    

asap = as soon as possible                                                          باسرع ما يمكن   -   حالا   

atb = all the best                                                                                                       الافضل

r = are

a/s/l = what is your age, sex and location?                               ما عمرك و جنسك و موقعك

b = be                                                                                                                            يكون

b4 = before                                                                                                                  من قبل

bin = been

brb = be right back                                                                                                      يعود

ct = cutie or attractive                                                                                      ذكي او جذاب

cub = call u back                                                                                               اتصل بك لاحقا

du = do you                                                                                                                هل انت

d8 = date                                                                                                            موعد او تاريخ

gr8 = great

gt = get

gtg = got to go

jit = just in time

l8r = later

lol = laugh out loud

luv = love

m8 = mate or friend

MbR$d = embarrassed

mob = mobile phone

oic = Oh, I see!

omg = Oh, my God!

otoh = on the other hand

ppl = people

plz = please

rotfl = rolling about on the floor laughing

ruf2t = Are you free to talk?

c and cu = see and see you

spk = speak

sm1 = someone

str8 = straight

ty = thank you

w8n = waiting

wen = when

werv = where have

wot = what

txt msg = text message

u and ur = you and your

xlnt = excellent

y = why

as soon as possible = asap

excellent = xlnt

great = gr8

laugh out loud = lol

on the other hand = otoh

people = ppl

rolling about on the floor laughing = rotfl

someone = sm1

straight = str8

waiting = w8n

want to = 12

what is your age, sex and location? = a/s/l?

where have = werv

why = y

I 12 c u du 12 c me 2? = Can you see me?

True False

T2ul8er = I will talk to you later.

True False

Cu2moro = See you tomorrow.

True False

Werv u bin? = Why are you not my mate?

True False

Kate's my m8 = I am friends with Kate.

True False

Wen u spk 2 John …. = When you speak to John …

True False

Sue is gr8 = I hate Sue.

True False

wot u on 2day? = What are you doing today?

True False

cu b4 10 = I will ring u back before 10 o'clock.

True False

cul8er = I will see if I can come.

True False

Last year there were some 60 billion text messages sent between mobile phones in the UK. We apparently luv to text message! The average texter sends 25 to 50 txt messages every month. This is a phenomenal rise in this type of communication. Some recent research has investigated this huge increase in text messages and y they have become so popular. It is also hoped that the research will be able to help technology companies build new means of communications which serve our needs better.

Teenagers send most of their messages from their own homes. This is surprising as they could probably telephone for free. However they believe that this is a far quicker form of communication than phoning m8s. It is, of course, also a lot cheaper than phoning ppl. They mainly use text messages for arrangements, for example about wen to meet.

The very serious texters, who might send up 2 500 messages a month, knew their mob keypads intimately and were found to be able to text without looking at their mobile phones! Can u do that?

We all like text msgs because they are private, unlike a phone call which might be answered by sm1 else such as our boss.

The 1 problem which the research uncovered was connected to the use of abbreviations. It was found that texters had different levels of understanding of these abbreviations and sometimes these could b confusing. However, text message abbreviations are now even being included in dictionaries of English!

continuously.

a letter on a PC keyboard or on a mobile phone.

places on the internet where people talk to each other with written text.

if something evolves, it grows at a natural speed.

stable, or does not move.

is known very well.

places on a keyboard or a mobile phone where you touch to write letters.

very dramatic.

when a thing or person is very much liked by others.

be of a useful purpose.

makes you surprised, or get unexpected information.