'Texting' Times

Ruby Sahay, Yahoo Contributor Network
May 23, 2013

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• Idk
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"Sup! Gr8 2 c u :) How r u?" Do you wince every time you get such text messages? Or, if you agree with the texter, do you type "shd b ok" and "LOL" to inject that much needed dose of humor into your conversation? Also, do you sign off saying, "C U…XXX"? How often do you hang up on a chat, saying "G2G...TTYL"? And, if you wish to continue after a short break, do you dash off "BRB"? How many of you with those ubiquitous hand held devices and computers, have dived into the new millennial text pool and have mastered the abbreviations and acronyms that constitute electronic chatter?

Once, on an online discussion forum, that seemed quite opinionated, I came across a feedback that was nothing more than a terse "TLDR". I balked at my lack of knowledge of the acronym. A franticGoogle search revealed, "Too Long, Didn't Read". That left me agape. And, then there was "IMHO" that saw me floundering again. 'In my honest opinion' I felt hamstrung by the new age vocabulary!

Texting and chatting with those skilled in chat lingo, introduces one to a host of tangled expressions and humorous acronyms. Texting vocab is commonly associated with youngsters who abbreviate words. Thus, whole words are substituted with letters, symbols and numerals, not just for ease and speed of typing, but more for the sheer fun of it, so much so that there seems to have evolved a new order amidst all the chaos. But must one really give in to the juvenile dictionary? Personally speaking, I seldom find myself using inscrutable acronyms and freaky spellings that may perceptibly categorize me into the league of young people. Yet, all that reluctance takes a beating when one wishes to pack in information, courtesy and etiquette into a conversation, plus save time on ornate typing. Given the frequency of web chats and the need to convey spontaneous emotions, even purists are seen breaking rules handily, and bowing to digital glossary. It ensues that as time, space and emotions condense, the wordbook gets customized forthwith.

As text speak spews bizarre expressions and articulation among the youth brigade, lack of use of the same sadly gets the youngster dubbed 'uncool', LOL! Much to the chagrin of mature users XXX, BRB, TTYL, OMG, IDK, ROFL, C U, and TMI are some of the esoteric acronyms on Instant Messaging and texting. If you are skilled at IM and still do not know what TBH or TMI means, then both you and I must admit to holding a rather scant knowledge of chat acronyms and kinky abbreviations. 

While fledglings gain frightening proficiency in the messaging lingo, linguists fume at the flagrant abuse of conventional spelling and grammar. The scenario however, gets watered down when parents, with an awareness of the potential dangers that surround their children on social networking sites, scramble to decode cryptic acronyms and smileys. 

In a fast changing world, as Facebook comes of age and more and more youngsters drift to Twitter, the need to abridge texts is even greater. Old-timers needn't fear, falter and frown at the fusion lexicon. Perhaps, in the digital age, your BFF with speed pills in hand, is blameless in text speaking 'AAYF'. And, conservatives who coined 'IOU' way back in the 17^thcentury can undoubtedly blink at that. :) 

Published by Ruby Sahay

Trending Vocab: Verbalizing

Ruby Sahay, Yahoo Contributor Network
May 17, 2013

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• Americanization
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"Well, I googled the recipe for that perfect guacamole!" Now how's that? Did you ''Google'' the recipe or did you ''search on the Internet''? The latter may appear as a term conventionally preferred but the former increasingly trends in usage. And despite the fact that one may use several other search engines to look up a fact, one simply ''googles'' it. Interesting, isn't it? One of the most flourishing developments in modern communication is the burgeoning use of verbalizing. 

Verbalizing implies converting nouns to verbs. Though primarily a grammatical affair, verbalizing has recently become a popular style in tète-à-tète. Accordingly, a host of commonplace terms, expressions and phrases have acquired a face lift, so much so that our generation of youngsters uses them with easy familiarity. The tendency goes on to embrace a host of English speakers who find themselves using innocuous, modern-day versions of the more accustomed, typically used words and phrases. You may ''airbrush'' a picture, but it is rather acceptable to say that you ''Photoshopped'' it. Whether you have the Photoshop tool or not, the term ''Photoshopped'' simply implies some sort of a camouflage that could have created a more endearing version of the real thing. Cool, isn't that?

Now, will you ''unlike'' me for being wacky or simply ''message'' me saying that you do not quite appreciate the way I'm getting along? Alternatively, you could 'inbox' me your number and I could call to explain myself. You may recoil at my lingo, but I guess I'm fine as long I'm ''Facebooking!'' However, if you still dislike me, you simply have to ''unfriend'' me. Notice how the Internet and social networking make vocabulary faddishly easy.

Verbalizing nouns has definitely to do with grammar, but modern day verbalizing has, to a marked degree, ''compartmentalized'' itself into informal conversation and social networking. Your friend's teen kid has made news by ''summiting'' the Everest. And while the kiddo may cringe about ''rooming'' with a geek at college, he has certainly chanced upon ''interfacing'' with a rocket scientist. For all you know, they may just ''partner'' on a new project and enjoy ''dialoguing'' about mutual interests.

Much of the recent verbalizing trends can be attributed to the Americanization of English. As British English is rapidly incorporating American flavors, ''verbalise'' with -ise is now written as ''verbalize'' with an -ize. Thus, it isn't uncommon to use words like ''symptomize,'' ''commercialize'' '''radicalize,'' or ''glamorize,'' yet it is more of a trend to say ''twitterize'' yourself, ''vampirize'' the guy and ''calendarize'' the events. These catch phrases may not have found their way into mainstream dictionary but there's something called an Urban Dictionary. Did you know about that yet?

It is a fact that users of English have taken certain words to the gallows and reincarnated them with a dash of colloquialism. Nevertheless, one mustn't forget that verbalizing is often wrought with trickiness. It is fine to 'text' a friend and 'spam' a stalker, but one certainly cannot post a link on another's Facebook page and say, "Hey! I've 'linked' you a funny video." Also, you can ''Google Search'' a long lost friend but you simply cannot ''Yahoo Search'' him. You may ''email," ''ping'' or ''WhatsApp'' him, but you possibly can't ''Facebook'' or ''LinkedIn'' him. And, do you realize that while you can ''lunch'' or ''dine'' with the consultant who ''head hunted'' you for your current role, you definitely cannot ''breakfast'' or ''coffee'' with him, if you so desire. Doesn't that get unpredictable?