Originally written by Jeff Allen on May 15, 2005 3:08 PM There were also 2 presentations on SMS language + a demonstration of a French <--> French SMS machine translation system at: http://tesniere.univ-fcomte.fr/nouvelles/programme.htm  (see section with presentations on 6 May 2005; they are in the section after the one with my keynote talk presentation)

With regard to Jacek's post higher above about the abbreviated forms of SMS text messages, during the question and answer session of the 2 conference presentations about SMS language mentioned directly above, I made the following statements:

1.  SMS language to me does not seem to be a form of controlled language because there are many dictionaries about SMS language vocabulary and even that is not followed closely. People do not walk around with a big SMS dictionary in their pocket to look up the word forms to use while writing SMS's on their phones.

2. SMS language is a quite variable language with different spelled forms, although there are many known standard forms. 

3. SMS language is an abbreviated form of natural language which follows at least two axes in its use. On one hand, it is a "cool, in-thing" way of expressing oneself, especially with young kids. They all want to show that they know this new language form.  Yet, on the other hand, the limit of 160 characters per message creates a financial constraint for sending messages. And who would want to pay the price of a second message for having 1-2 letters too many in their first message.

My office colleagues and I write lot of SMS messages to each other for technical info when we are in contexts without email access and cannot talk by phone (such as they are giving a training course). Yet, due to ongoing "cost reduction requests" by employers, employees try to squeeze the content of a much longer full-sentence message into a single SMS message with many abbreviated forms.   It would be interesting to find a study (MA or PhD thesis) that analyzes such highly packed content messages into 1 or 2 SMS messages, and at what point the messages become non-undertandable to the recipients because of the attempt to squeeze all of the information into a single 160-character message.   This could show that when SMS language is claimed to be a controlled language (some do claim this), then in some cases it can be a form of controlled language which runs the risk of degrading the understandability of the message rather than always improving the readability for all readers.

Jeff

Emoticons During Wartime

Originally written by Laurent Chiacchierini on December 4, 2007 5:27 PM This is a natural resurgence of telegraphic style (from the time when telegrams were charged per word). Same causes, same effects... P.S. Also because of the awkward input entry on a non-alphabetic telephone keyboard.

The Blackberry is now heavily influencing text messaging since it is email by telephone. Some of my more recent messages received include an email from a Blackberry user who puts a disclaimer at the end of the message indicating "sorry for the typos, I'm using a Blackberry".   And also a few weeks ago a phone text message from someone who forgot to sign the message and say who it was.  That didn't do me any good at all, since that person's mobile phone number wasn't in my directory. 

About 10 years ago, I gave courses on technical and business writing and indicated that email should be written in a way that puts all the information on half the size of aa desktop monitor screen (and they were only 14-15 inches at that time).  Now, the Blackberry and similar devices are making it worse because you have to write your email message in such a telegraphic style for some to even consult it on their Blackberry screen.

Amazing how the increase in technology can lead to degradation of quality of communication. 

Originally written by Jacek Krankowski on May 13, 2008 11:25 AM Or can it?   From http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/12/opinion/edtexting.php:   Item: A new study warns that writing text messages could hurt a writer's command of standardized English. We had to LOL when we read how txt-msg lingo is replacing stndrd english in student academic pprs. 1 casualty of da trend is uz of capital letter to start a sentence. kids feel free to lowercase everything. pnktu8n is also dissed. tchaz try to help but its often 2 l8.

It will probably lead to a new generation with those who become teachers claiming that they are biliterate in standard English and Textlish, and requesting a higher salary for such bilingualism.  Reminds me of ebonics in the US in the mid 1990s.

Jeff

A doctor volunteering in war-torn Congo performed a complex amputation to save a boy’s life by following instructions sent by text message from a colleague in London: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5276983.ece