iTeen Series

Texting is a much-used means of communication in these techno-savvy days.  Everybody’s doing it but the young and old typically have different styles.

“LOL! I hd a gud tme 2day pop, ttyl.”  Translation:  “Laughing out loud! I had a good time today, dad.  I’ll talk to you later.”  Some people almost defeat the purpose of texting by not knowing how to do it!  Trust me; I lose cool points myself for not keeping up with broaching words.  In fact, you can tell the age of the texter by the words he or she uses in a text message.  My mom, for instance, tends to spell every word.  But based on this recent text, she’s learning.  It said: “C me”.

William Glass III, a student at Leonardtown High School in Maryland, was a finalist in the LG Texting Championship in New York on July 9. Glass, who was 14 at the time, doesn’t use the text symbols that many other teens rely upon. He goes for full sentences and speed. (Courtesy photo)

Txt lingo is always changing, so it’s up to the teens of the world to keep ourselves and our parents updated on what’s new in text town.  Because of the economy and the cost of actually talking on my cell phone, I have to do a lot more texting than talking.  So I’m spending more and more time in text town.  So much to say, so little space to say it in.

“These abbreviations are the language of text messaging, especially when I’m texting because if it weren’t for lol, ttyl, and omg, you could compare my texts to books,” says Da’lasha Anderson, a 16-year-old teen who attends Booker T. Washington high school. “Texting is my life, OMG!”

“Without texting, what would I do?” Ronald Carter of Central High has to keep in touch with his ‘plethora of females’.  “If  I’m not cool when I text my girls, they might move on and I’m not ready for that,” Ronald jokes.  “I have to be new with my words though, seriously, ‘cause I can’t afford to lose any cool points.”

Eboni Irving, 19, of Detroit, MI., loves to make up her own text abbreviation.  “LMSO,  laughing my socks off, is not a text that you see often.  Everybody says the same stuff and that’s cool for them, but I’m not the same.  So I come up with different stuff.”

“G2g, my bro is p2m.  Ttyl.”   Akari Alexander has a different way of texting.  She likes to incorporate numbers into her texts, which she does on a frequent basis.  “Everybody uses abbreviations, so people should have their own style about it, if they’re going to use them.”

Bionca Hall, 18, of Houston High says, “I like to abbreviate long words because you can put your own spin to words and make your personality show also.  For instance, OMG, my BFF Jill, Or, Lolz, ah8, thts enuf!  There are different ways to show excitement, shock, sadness, happiness and many more emotions.

One way to keep updated on new text abbreviations is to vary who you text.  Since everyone obviously has his or her own style and different personas, you can pick up what others say, and then add your own twist.

“It seriously irks me when I text someone who has one of the exact same abbreviations that I have,” says Ronald Carter.  “If you’re going to take it, take it and make it your own.  That’s the importance of putting your own twist on other people’s words.”

Karanja Ade Mosi Ajanaku

Texting is important to teens, and so is staying up on the new lingo.  Below this story, you’ll find a chart with frequently used text abbreviations.  Remember, if you take it, take it and make it your own.  Ttyl!

(Karanja Ade Mosi Ajanaku is a student at Central High School. iTeen is an occasional column about life as a Memphis Teen. If you have a story idea for Karanja, email him at iteen@tri-statedefender.com