With a phone call, you have to watch every word you’re saying because what is said can’t be erased. On the other hand, with a text, the delete button becomes your best friend at the end of the day. While texting has revolutionized communication, its convenience comes with a price.
My first Blackberry was my life saver; the peanut butter to my jelly, the milk to my cookie. I even remember the first text I sent to my mom. It simply said: Thnx. Her response: Excuse me?
Turns out, she thought “Thnx” meant something else.
Over the years, my encounters with these infinite abbreviations have gone beyond the keyboard. Whether it’s at the mall or in the classroom, I’ve heard these abbreviations over and over again, replacing — gasp — proper English. Let me break down a few experiences for you.
The irking IDK: When I spaced out for a few moments in chemistry, I returned to planet Earth to find a stack of papers lying atop my desk. When I turned to my friend and asked her what our assignment was, she replied effortlessly, “IDK.” Not only did her response prompt me to ask more than half a dozen students before obtaining an adequate response, but it seemed rather uncouth. A simple “I’m not really sure” would have been appreciated — just saying.
The locution LOL: Every once in a while, there’s that absurdity of a movie that traumatizes and disappoints at the same time. Recently, a film starring Miley Cyrus, playing an average high school student hit theaters flaunting the title, LOL. When our movie titles begin to be texting abbreviations, it’s obvious that there is a problem.
The generic GTG: I was with a friend at the park when a phone call left her running to her car in frenzy. As she sprinted off, she yelled “GTG.” While walking home later, I thought of the meaningful conversation we had been having when the intrusive “GTG” butted its way into our dialogue.
Unlike the usual (or what I perceive to be normal), “Bye, I have to go but I’ll see you later, alright?” I got a “GTG” — whatever that means. Abbreviations are acceptable in a text message to a friend, but when they begin to impede on our speech, they become intolerable. At first, texting was criticized for creating a void in interpersonal communication. But the overuse of “text talk” is rendering a greater dispute. If it continues, we’re going to begin seeing the symbol @ instead of the word “at” in Shakespeare essays and job applications. Imagine the horror.
I remember a time when we actually used our bulky 12 by 12-inch Nokias with foot-long antennas. I’m just joking — I don’t remember a time like that, but I do remember when we needed speakers on our phones to carry out decent conversations, not just a keyboard. My tip to all those “text talkers” out there: take a break from the texting and speak on the phone for once, before you forget how to do it.
About the author: A 15-year-old who will be a junior at High School North in the fall, Engy Shaaban was born in Cairo, Egypt, and moved to the U.S. when she was four. Engy has lived in Plainsboro ever since, attending Wicoff Elementary, Millstone River, and Community Middle School.
“I am an aspiring journalist and media enthusiast. While I may not be the most outspoken individual, I have learned to use my writing as a means of expressing myself. I love anything press-related and enjoy reading in my free time. I currently live with my mom (a stay at home mother), my dad (an accountant), and my older brother (currently attending college in New York City).”
For what it’s worth (FWIW), this column appeared originally in the June issue of the Knightly News, the student newspaper at High School North.
