July 30, 2008
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Texting
It is funny to watch how quickly some people go into text speech.
You can have an intelligent individual who writes well thought out posts and all of a sudden you talk to that same person on IM and he/she goes into a texting mode.
“hw u doiN Dan? wauu2 2day?”
But I noticed that recently that I have at times not capitalized letters during certain IM conversations that should be capitalized.
Have you been impacted by text speech?
Comments (148)
If by impacted you mean gotten a migraine headache, well then yes.
So far in my very young life, I have not had the inclination to text…
Nope.
Not very much.
Oh man, i tried to answer that as fast as i can so i can be first.. oh man.. errggghhh.. third.. damn.
When my students try and text their writing assignments instead of using proper English!
I don’t even type like that while texting. However, I don’t bother capitalizing the first letter of a sentence while IMing. I do capitalize “I”, because I am important.
“Impacted” meaning what, exactly?
I’ve gotten irritated by the “LYK OMFFFFGGGGZZZ!!!!111″, but sometimes I’ll catch myself writing a “lol” or something of that nature.
And I still don’t know what l337 means. I know it means elite but um, seriously. Anyone care to explain??
ooh yes haha. i can’t get into the habit of capitalizing if i’m just typing for my personal entertainment. like now. i don’t quite talk like the example you gave (“hw u doiN Dan? wauu2 2day?”) but i’ll use abbreviations a lot, and the sad part is that sometimes i feel the urge to use the abbreviations when i’m speaking. =O thankfully, i don’t.
Not in the least. In fact, I don’t even TEXT like that. I still use proper punctuation and capitalization and spelling.
It drives me nuts at times. I’ll understand most of it but sometimes I have to go back and reread it slowly before it clicks. When IMing there is no reason to shorten the message, but on texting I know you have a character limit.
I send nearly 300 texts a month, according to my bills, and each one of them has perfect spelling, grammar and sentence structure.
Not really. I sometimes abbreviate words when texting or pulsing because of character limits, but I usually try to write complete sentences with proper spelling grammar, punctuation and capitalization.
@purplepixiepoo - Oh man, i tried to answer that as fast as i can so i can be first.. oh man.. errggghhh.. third.. damn.
How is it working out for you? You know, being superficial and lame.
@Kestryl - Props.
@huginn - HA. Best comment ever.
Yup. It’s just easier when typing informally.
Seeing it in formal documents though, that scares me.
No, in fact when I text I don’t even type like that. I just type normal, but may abbreviate some words.
Nope.
Thats why I don’t text, I spell it all out and it takes to long….I just say, this is stupid, I’m callin the sucker and tell them what I want!
Absolutely. But it’s not to that extreme. I just find that I just throw grammar out the window. Capital letters especially. And I make use of the “…” way too often, when it is and isn’t needed. I also have a tendancy to start sentences with “and, but, or” and other conjuntions. My thoughts? Who cares. As long as it’s legible…
On the flip side, when I text I use full words with great grammar unless there is a character limit. My friends complain because I take forever to text, and because one text for me will take two pages of text for them to read. Can’t help it.. I’m wordy and I hate abbreviations.
I try to use proper grammar, spelling, etc. in my texts. It’s not that hard using T9, although the capitalization gets messed up sometimes.
Not really… I used to, but then I realized how annoying it is when other people do it…
@Kestryl - Exactly
Somewhat, but bad grammar & spelling bug the hell out of me!
@LifeNeedsProtection - Haha! I deal with that same thing! “bc” does not equal “because,” “u does not equal you,” and “lol” is straight up not appropriate for most writing!
When I am texting or IMing I use proper grammar. I cannot stand when people use the text lingo. It annoys the hell of out of me. Its probably one of my biggest pet peeves, probably because I want to be an English teacher (before I had my children I was in school majoring in English).
I hardly ever text message anyone. Therefore when I do find myself texting someone, I tend to use proper english and punctuation. That makes me the slowest texter in the world I do believe.
As if cell phones weren’t bad enough ! I ride a motorcycle, so I am “impacted” everyday by people texting while driving. (Both hands off the wheel!!
) As for “text speech”………I just thought the people were retarded. Kill me now!
I occasionally use ‘lol’. My brother told me that I would look like an idiot if I typed like that. So, I try to be as grammatically correct as possible whenever I text or instant message.
Nah. I only text when I really can’t answer my phone. Besides, my phone has letters like a keyboard and it’s easy to type like a normal person.
I use lol alot whether on the internet or not. I actually do not like to text because I have this crazy idea that if you are already punching the keypad then you can just punch in my number and call me directly. Texting is lazy.
Ok, I had to read that about 3 times just to figure out what you were saying. My mother-in-law uses that abbreviated stuff in emails all the time and it drives me crazy. She even signed my son’s online guest book like that. In my opinion it just looks unintelligent, like she doesn’t care enough to actually spell out the whole word. I know text speak saves time but I don’t use it.
@Lizard_Tongue - Oh man tell me about it! I can’t stand these little tenny bopper kids, sorry but it is usually a teenager, who feel the need to text and not watch the road! I was cut off FIVE TIMES last night by some chick because she was doing exactly that!
My cousin uses “text-speech” and it just makes me not want to be around her alittle more everytime she does.
funny you mention texting. i just blogged about how important texting can be during a crisis. must be in the air.
ehh you only got a certain number of characters you can use
@LadyValkyrie37 - Yeah me too, but atleast we don’t look like idiots. lol
I try to use grammar and spelling in my texts. haha.
but I was ruined by my friends’ “you’re” and “your” mix ups, and find myself slipping up sometimes.
Absolutely not. I refuse to stoop to such a primitive form of speech.
People have died for the right to learn to read and write. I will not partake in this nation’s giant step backwards in that area.
I had someone say “lol’ in a regular coversation. haha.
sometimes
I tend to go into long rants to people I’m talking to online (hell, that’s the only time usually I’ll bother talking to anyone on IM), and when I do I get all pressured in speech/manic and then I type very fucking fast- which is incredibly fast, seeing as typing is pretty much my only talent and has been since I was like 9 or 10, back when typing at 100 wpm was a big deal, and before we all had our own laptops. At those times I tend to slowly let out the rules of grammar that are ordinarily shoved far up my ass, particularly with the ‘s and capitalization.
Well sure, we all have, but I try not to let it influence me. Three years working at a writing center will do that to you.
Yeah. I dont do alot of the cutesy stuff, but I make use of common abbreviations more than I believe I should.
Yes, I tend not to use capitalization in IMs unless it is a proper noun. Other than that, it simply depends on if the person is using their phone and can only get so many characters at once. It drives me insane to be able to get everything I need to say, but ONE word with one IM so I’ll type nothin.
not really. i try to spell it all in full. but i must admit, im a bit lazy with the capital letters, as you can tell from this alone.
No. Even when I text I type it out properly. It annoys me to see the text language.
nope! hahaa…but i still used to type “u” instead of “you”..and also sometimes with “lol” when i didnt want to type “hahaah!”…
That’s scary. From Jeckl to Hyde in a way.
No. My texts are always full sentences and I never use ‘U’ for ‘you’, or any of those abbreviations.
of course. text speech is better than normal writing. people who don’t adopt it are living in the past!
I’m a late bloomer, and just recently got into it over the last few months.
However, I’m one of those grammar nazis that tries my best to NOT use text speech… unless I am in a hurry and don’t have the patience to respond with a detailed explanation.
And I am very slow in the actual texting process. I don’t know, maybe it’s coordination, because I type so much faster. Guess that’s the one thing I don’t like about texting.
@lovemonkeyy - Explaining what l337 means is like explaining what words like ‘the’ mean. They have definitions, but you really only understand it through context and speech (er, or text).
@Kestryl - Same here, except I send about 3400 texts a month.
There’s nothing I hate more than “text speech.” It’s like a form of ebonics created by white people. I’ll use “lol” and most of the other acronyms that everyone uses, but I don’t cross over into the unnecessary.
@OfElection - What the hec does I337 mean anyway? A guy I went to college with had that in his AIM screen name, and when I asked him he said it had something to do with Final Fantasy or something.
I hate text messaging and what it does to the English language/my phone bill.
@vwagenjetta - I don’t know exactly if it came from Final Fantasy, but it is a gaming type of thing. I don’t really know how to explain the idea I get from it except with more jargon–high-speed. I guess it kind of means you are cool, good at whatever game or whatnot you’re playing, or I think it can generally refer to internet speech/terms. I don’t think there is a clear cut definition. But one thing is for sure if you’re a net geek, l337′s the way to be. Just make sure you don’t get pwned.
I only text speech in texts and then not very often — however I will abbreviate some common sayings in comments, chatting, IM’ing, and some message board posts — like LOL — IM or PM (private message) – but will type out you and two and things like that……
I text as I do write. The only times when I fail are when I have to write a long text message and have to shorten words and/or replace words with numbers. And I’ve been told by many people that I text pretty fast.
Now typing…I could get faster at.
@vwagenjetta - l337 is short for leet or “elite” which is the typing language people use with numbers like pw3d.
I think. I’m not a pro, but that’s my understanding.
the only way I’m impacted by it is that it annoys me.
my mom sends me texts like “w r u” or “wts up u cmg hm?”
I want to be like… you know it takes just as much time to type out the whole word… It’s actually more trouble to type it out like that haha
Actually, when I do text I use complete sentences with periods, commas, and even capitalization where it’s appropriate.
I sometimes don’t capitalize things that should be on facebook, xanga, or IM because I feel that it is more aesthetically pleasing. No lie! I think that “i” looks better lower case. Haha I’m ridiculous though, so that’s just me!
I generally don’t respond to such things. Moreso, it annoys me when people use the “word” typing feature but don’t bother to double check if it gave them the right word. I end up getting messages that make no sense at all.
I despise texting.. but apparently I find myself using it every now and then, by choice and sometimes by force. Ironically, my phone has texting, I cannot turn it off, and its not on my plan so I have to pay extra to send/recieve tests.. urg, annoying. If I wanted to type I would use my computer, phones are for talking to somone with your VOICE! lol
I don’t use capital letters in sms texts.
A bit, but I generally don’t even use text speech while texting, hehe.
No, I prefer not looking like an idiot/13 year old girl.
I may not capitalize or punctuate correctly but I never use any abbreviations unless I am doing so to avoid cursing because to me they are a sign of mental inferiority.
Besides, I am not fluent in text speech.
@Doubledb - I agree. Texting sucks. I have sent maybe 20 texts in my lifetime most of which were to my grandpa because he had really bad hearing.
you are getting 2 totally different things confused. There is texting, which is with a phone, and then there is IMing, with is with a messenger.
Now texting I tend to shorten my words a bit but if I have time I’ll write them all out, or depending on what phone I have, if I have a qwerty keyboard then I’ll type like a mad women.
now on IM I type correctly. It’s a computer. There is no reason to type all mumbo jumbo.
IDK Dan…
When I IM I don’t capitalize the first word or end the message with punctuation, simply because it’s “instant” and that slows me down.
However, I do capitalize and punctuate the middle of sentences simply because of habit. I will never resort to text-talk though.
In fact, on Facebook I created a group called, “Advocates for the Proper Spelling of ‘You.’”
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Not really I text full words and sentences.
Most the time…
i never capatalize, so that’s not really an issue for me… and as far as typo’s i try to correct them if i do make one, and i limit my slang usage to “lol” or “ttyl” i dunno what the rest of that garbage means…
Can not stand when people type like that. It makes them seem ignorant.
And lazy.
I bought a phone with a keyboard so it was easier to type properly. Because I’m that much of a fucking spazz.
Well unless I have to abbreviate…I do..If I dont have to I will more than likely spell everthing out….but sometimes I would be having multiple text conversations so making nice and quick is key….
Well I can’t help going into text talk when I’m actually texting because yes, there is a word limit, and not all my friends have unlimited texting. But when it comes to aim… I’m not that huge on grammar, spelling, or capitalization when instant messaging people, but I do hate it when they shorten every single word. Come on, just stop being lazy and type the whole damn word. It’s not like there’s a character limit.
I used to be so horrible with chat speak. Then, one day, I looked back at an old post I had written on some site I used to go to, and realized with utter horror that I couldn’t read it. >.<
The next day, I began paying attention in English class.
I think the only sign of my old habit is that I still say “lol”. I just can’t shake it, but I think I could be doing much worse. So I’m happy. Oh, and I also use text faces still, if that counts.
I really, really hope not. I hate text speak.
Sometimes when I’m reeeeeeeally tired, I don’t capitalize.
I refuse to talk in “text speech” although whilst IMing online sometimes it is faster to not use correct capitalization but I definitely use proper grammar.
i try to spell out every word but may abbreviate words like states or citys love to all shelly
It’s a dilution of language and it’s annoying as anything I’ve ever faced in the department of language. It’s difficult to read and if a person gets too used to it, they can forget how to read the language they learned. That will be a problem once America ceases to exist.
But of course, that’s not as big an issue as the fall of the United States!
It also seems to cause people to forget that books exist and attractive women that don’t read suddenly become less attractive to me.
I do approve of emoticons; in colloquial typing it’s difficult to convey emotion in some cases.
caps don’t apply to texting or Im IMHO. i mean it’s just for fun. it’s not school. i like to sometimes abbreviate stuff.
I definitely still type the same when I text and when I write on here. Makes for very long text messages, but I get free texting, and I don’t text that many people, so I figure I am good. :]
SRLSY THO DAN. ;] Hahaha. Just kidding.
RYC: You’re probably right. :] We should be friends, Dan.
Some what, but not to bad, as I have only owned a cell phone for a couple months. So the long term effects have not kicked in yet.
I don’t think so, but meh.
Nope. I like good grammar, thx vry mch.
it is almost a 2nd language…
yes. I even use text language out loud. I’ll go to my friends and say “omg u will not believe what I heard today!”
and they might actually say “idk what?”
*shrugs* its just what we do.
No, because I always use complete sentences and capitalization. Unless I’m on MSN messenger with someone I’m really close to and don’t need to prove my competence with language.
i never use text speak. the only thing i change at all is capitalization.
I capitalize and use proper punctuation when texting.
I’ve found myself incorporating acronyms such as “LOL” and “OMG” into everyday conversation… how ridiculous and embarrassing.
But I don’t text. So… where is this invisible influence coming from? I think it’s an epidemic. Something must be done.
not really. i don’t let my online non-capitalized improper/lazy punctuation mingle with my actual writing.
t9 really changes that. if anything, texting taught me how to spell words. embarassing as it is, i’ve been spelling exercise exCercise for the longest time. t9 helped me get into the habit of spelling correctly.
I rarely use it. I think it takes me longer to type something out in text speech than in real words.
dont hate for real tho true story
Yes. “rly” and lack of capitalization sometimes and “obvz” and shorter versions of words like that have crept their ways into my shorthand. I have a Rumor phone so I don’t use numbers unless I’m running out of space in a message or taking notes that’re going REALLY fast, but I don’t do that stuff so much to be recognized as text speak. Hopefully I will never get that bad!
I do use what I consider chat shorthand. However when it comes to texting I think it is, maybe because I am an idiot in my own right, to damn hard. I read a blog or two that only writes in text code. I do not read it often, it is a they subbed to me so I returned the favor type of thing.
I have a question to go with this. In my daughter’s school their lame excuse for not putting more emphasis into Spelling classes *keeping in mind she is soon to be 4th grade* is because computers have spell check. In my opinion they kind of meld together into what you have brought up here and the whole computer spell check thing.
I have seen children older then mine who actually are unable to spell the most simple word but can text it out in about 2 seconds.
I hate to see this or any other country when our children start running things. Misspellings and all.
I have had students turn in papers using text speech. Duh! What happened to regular English?
While, I text and am on IM programs constantly, I try to let it get into my brain as little as possible.
That’s why I bought a phone with a full keyboard, to make it easier to capitalize, and punctuate.
Not too incredibly much. I don’t like texting on my phone…in fact, I can’t stand it. A random text here and there is alright, but I won’t ever make it a hobby. It’s annoying. But I sometimes don’t capitalize all the letters I should. This usually happens when I’m typing in a hurry and am just feeling a bit lazy.
I’m a chameleon, it’s kind of weird. I mimic how I’m being talked to on msn. If they’re fast and loose with their typing, I’m more relaxed as well.
When I first started, I was very mindful of capitalization and overall grammar and spelling. But now, I’ve learned that it usually decreases the amount of words I can actually say (character limits!) so now I just try to say just what I have to in order to get the thought across! =)
I do my best to put full words out there.
I have that phone.
And I’m quite proper in my typing both in and outside of instant messaging.
not really. ex: i refuse to shorten ‘you’ to ‘u’ or too/to/two to ’2′ [that's kind of confusing]. some people don’t understand txt speech and i feel so wrong not texting out full sentences.
Only in the area of lol, brb, u, and r. I don’t really text talk that well, nor do I text well anyway. I prefer capitalization and full sentences for the most part. And I hate that T9 setting on text messaging, I can’t figure it out so I just manually type everything out.
Only slightly. The only text speak terms I use are “OMG” and “Brb”. Everything else is typed out formally. [:
Nope.
i have not been impacted by text speech. it takes forever, but i type in proper english, minus the capital letters.
I tend to let captilization go too. What I hate about IM is that I am trying to type fast to keep the convo going and I misspell too many words.
@jesusrapture - Of course I’m not ready. Women always take too long to get dressed.
I’ve been more impacted by LOLcat speak than anything else, to be honest.
I type the same way I blog (with slightly different tone), just without capitalizing too much.
My screen name comes from the fact that I insist on using proper English even in chat. I’ve relaxed somewhat since then, but I still tend to write about like this in general.
Not that much because I don’t text a lot.
i actually started using that sort of speech on AIM before getting a cell phone..
People who can’t take the time out to spell “you” strike me as moronic.
That’s about it.
I spell my words out and use proper grammar while texting.
I type fast enough that I don’t worry about shortening it in any way. I also think it shows a better grasp of the language if you type things out. I think it is fine on a cell phone to save time, but I not when I “IM.”
Txtspk=STUPID
Not really. I don’t even use text messaging currently.
guilty as charged! it’s a bad habit..
I don’t know a single person who texts, types, writes, or speaks that way.
No, not really. Even if so, just somewhat. I’d abbreviate the words. e.g. “tmr – tomorrow”
It is amazing how it phases in and out of your life. Years ago, I was a “srsly lol zomg brb afk XP” typist. Now I look back on it with the shame that I do my old N’sync and Backstreet Boys CDs. Then I realize that thanks to Warcraft, I just shifted dialects. lf2m full hunt/sham/rog need resto dru ZG pst.
im sorry
but wt is “wauu2″?
Never. Not even when texting. I never abbreviate things in text messages, which probably drives my friends crazy… oh well
Sometimes I forget to capitalize letters when I’m typing in chat.
lmao i know!!!!!!!! that happens to me all the time!!!
When I text I type everything out. It’s easier to use t9 that way.
When I first started IMing, I did it a lot, then I got tired of it and now I just hate it. I try to not do it as much as possible.
I text the same in text messages as I would in any other written conversation (T9 definitely helps), with the exception of accepted shorthand such as: b/c, w/o, asap, etc… It also drives me absolutely nuts to have otherwise intelligent, gramatically aware friends text me using text speech. Write me properly or don’t write me at all. (However, on the other end, all my dad’s “do not”s and “would you please”s and other expressions of formality drive me equally crazy.)
Yes! I use to think ppl who text were ignorant or lazy, but over the past two years of texting more often, it has become part of routine. I usually text more now than I do use the phone, and texting spilling into IMs, I just recently started doing IMs, so I do find myself interacting my text vocabulary into my blogs. Pretty soon, we’ll all be speaking text, lol, like the Alltel commercial, (or was it Verizon?)
That’s too funny u bring that up. It just seems quicker or ppl just feel more creative when they use text language.
I write in words and if I come across something I go over to Wikipedia to try to figure out what the thing means.
I actualllllllyyyyy… Have texts blocked on my phone! I hate getting them, people always expect me to respond! I don’t have the patience for it, and I’ve never understood why people don’t just call each other.
But I’m not to bad about IM talk. I slip in a ‘U, 2, dunno or lol’ once in a while, thats about it though.
No, never….well, occasionally.
The thing is, I feel silly doing it. Then again I feel silly being such a square and not doing it.
i text perfect grammar.. if i have to
when i do text, i don’t abbreviate or use text “speak”. i type the whole word out, no matter how long. if someone texts me with that crap, i don’t reply. now, as for capitalization…i type a zillion emails a day with proper punctuation, capitalization and sentence structure. when i’m at home doing this sorta stuff, everything proper goes out the window. i don’t wanna think about using proper grammar after 6pm.
oh, and the perfect spelling just comes naturally.
Lol, I do not even lose correct grammar and punctuation when I text. And believe me, I text a ton!!! I generally ignore anyone who texts and/or IM’s me a message that looks as if a toddler wrote it. That drives me nuts!!!!
Nope. Surprisingly, one of my friends never uses text mode.
After writing a 16 page essay on “To Kill A Mockingbird” for 2 days nonstop (I did it 2 days before it was due LOL), i got a rushed text from a friend, and almost scolded her.
I write my texts out, so, no, I haven’t been affected by text speak. A lot of the time, I find it irritating.