How do you speak the language? What does it all mean? Here are a few rules of the game, courtesy of Wikipedia…
Single letters can replace words
*be becomes b
*see becomes c
*are becomes r
*you becomes u
*why becomes y
*ate becomes 8
*for becomes 4
*to or too becomes 2
A single letter or digit can replace a syllable
*ate becomes 8, so:
*great becomes gr8
*later becomes l8r or l8a
*skate becomes sk8
*skater becomes sk8r
*"tomorrow" becomes "2mro"
*for or fore becomes 4, so:
*before becomes (combining both of the above) b4
*therefore becomes thr4
*Are you there becomes r u there or r u dere
Combinations of the above can shorten a single or multiple words
*Your and You're both become ur or yr
Characters and punctuation can be removed to shorten messages
*-in can replace -ing in most cases, similar to that in vocal slang
*For example, coming becomes comin and txting becomes txtin
Vowels can be removed such that the sequence of consonants remain and the word is still recognizable.
*For example, between becomes btwn or b/w and yearbook becomes yrbk
*Or: Are you there becomes r u thr
*“/” can signify abbreviation, such as w/ for with and s/t for something
There are tons of online sources to help you obtain a better understanding. Best advice – be informed and aware of your students’ communication skills and methods!
If you run across a text message you just can’t decipher… check out this searchable acronyms and abbreviations site. http://www.abbreviations.com/
G2G. T+. HTH!
(Got to go. Think Positive. Hope this helps!)
