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Text messages are a popular way to communicate using a cellular phone. Since it can take too much time to type a complete sentence, a form of shorthand known as "text lingo" or "chat lingo" has developed. For parents who are unfamiliar with this new language, how to understand your kids' text messages will help you learn the basics.
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Step 1: Getting Down the Basics
- When teens text message, their goal is to say as much as possible in as few letters as possible. Rarely are words completely typed out. If you are good at deciphering vanity plates, you will probably be good at deciphering text messages. Here is how basic phrases are determined:
- Acronyms: Acronyms are often used for common phrases. Examples are LOL for "laughing out loud" and OMG for "oh my god."
- Abbreviated words: Words are often abbreviated, such as GF for girlfriend and PPL for people. Sometimes silent letters and vowels are removed, such as PLS for please and XLNT for excellent.
- Numbers, letters and symbols for sounds: In such cases as 121 for "one to one," CUL for "see you later" and B4 for before, sounds are shortened to single letters/numbers.
- Popular and random phrases: Some phrases have become popular for various reasons. Common terms include 420 for "marijuana", 143 for "I love you" (the number of letters in each word) and 459 for "I love you" (the corresponding numbers for the letters I, L and Y).Snopes: 420 Urban Dictionary: 143
- Known abbreviations: Terms such as @ for at are frequently used.AT&T: AT&T Text2Connect with Teens
- Combination of any of the above.
- In order to understand some phrases, you need to look at the context. Otherwise, the results could be disastrous. For example:
- U can mean "How are you?" or "You do it."
- G2G can mean "Get together" or "Got to go"
- GFY can mean "Good for you" or "Go f--- yourself"
- BF can mean "boyfriend" or "best friend"
- WB can mean "Welcome back" or "Write back"
- It may seem confusing, but you'll start to get the hang of it soon enough. Even normal English has homographs, or words that are spelled the same, yet have different meanings (e.g. "desert," "lead" and "refuse").
Online Text Message Dictionaries
- Since text lingo has become almost a second language, it would be impossible to list all the terms on one page. However, there are a number of online resources available to help you translate a message. Here are a few of them:
- Abbreviations.com
- WebWasp: Text Messaging Dictionary
- Netlingo: The Largest List of Text Message Shorthand
- Netlingo: The Top 50 Acronyms Every Parent Needs to Know
- Dictionary of English slang and colloquialisms of the UK
- ComputerUser: High-Tech Dictionary
- Lingo2Word: Texting Lingo
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Chat Abbreviations
- Tech Dictionary
Step 3: Emoticons
- Emoticons, or the use of a combination of symbols to represent a word, phrase or emotion, are common in emails, instant messages and chat conversations. They also show up in text messages. Sometimes they are quite simple, such as the basic smile :-), while others are more complex. Here are a few of the basic emoticons you might see or want to use:
- :-) Smile, happy
- :-( Sad, depressed
- ;-) Wink
- :-D Big grin or laugh
- :-P Sticking tongue out
- :-* Kiss
- :-/ Uncertain
- :-| Waiting, indifferent
- :-S Smirk
- :-O Shocked, surprised
- >:( Angry
- :-? Confused
- :'( Crying
- :-X My lips are sealed
- o:-) Angelic
- For a larger list of emoticons, you can check out some of the following sources:
- Wikipedia: List of Common Emoticons
- ComputerUser: High-Tech Dictionary: Emoticons
- Emoticons & Smilies: Emoticons Explained
- Lingo2Word: Emoticon List
Step 5: Warning Signs
- There are some codes that every parent should keep his/her eyes open for. These are codes that kids use to warn others that their parents are around or that they use to talk about sex, drugs, or to arrange a meeting.
Emoticon Resources
- Wikipedia: List of Common Emoticons
- ComputerUser: High-Tech Dictionary: Emoticons
- Emoticons & Smilies: Emoticons Explained
- Lingo2Word: Emoticon List
