It's on the increase, no doubt about it, countless threads on here cropping up now and its really starting to get on my wick! I think its lazy, hard to read and just plain daft.

Is it becoming socially acceptable to use, as it seems more and more people these days are using it. I'll freely admit to using it on mobile phones... but on t'internet! Never.

What gets me is give the person a pen and paper, would they write in text speak? Probably not, so how does the use of a keyboard change their use of language.

Petty I know, but I don't use it on texts either. I really do find it more difficult to read and assume others will too!

I had an application form recently for a post I advertised and it came back filled in (badly) with 80% "txt spk". I didn't invite him for an interview....

Do you not think that in a few years it'll just become acceptable?  

Just thinking a little more about this - realised there's a section in the forum rules about creative spelling:

Please try to practise general netiquette. What does this mean? Well not writing your posts or their subjects ALL IN CAPITALS. This is not only annoying, but it makes you look like you've got some kind of anger management problem. Also practice good English, and refrain from using ‘txt’ speak. You're using a keyboard to type with, not a mobile phone key pad.

We've never had to enforce this but I can see a point coming where it will become an issue... 

mclannahan:

Petty I know, but I don't use it on texts either. I really do find it more difficult to read and assume others will too!

I had an application form recently for a post I advertised and it came back filled in (badly) with 80% "txt spk". I didn't invite him for an interview....

Do you not think that in a few years it'll just become acceptable?  

I dearly hope not - some say the English language is changing but I fee like its being eroded away, slowly but surely.

I'm concerned its making this forum sometimes hard to read - and the information base it represents is being damaged as a result. 

Your using a keyboard to type, not a mobile phone key pad.

Tut tut tut 

Personally I can't stand the txt spk either lyk

It makes the individual creating the post appear as a bit of a dim wit. Bad spelling and grammar I ignore, as even I'm not great with general grammar, but the txt speak is plain awful. 

Strange to think that it would become the accepted way of communicating.  I openly admit to using some abreviations in text, however,  only if the total number of characters exceeds the limit for 1 message. Hahaha, Im tight... so I go back and shorten some of the words, but only VERY obvious things...  Its quicker to text using predictive if you ask me.

Things like 'dats' and 'cuz' really get on my nerves. They are more about trying to be cool rather than shortening ... the first one is on letter shorter thant Thats and just put 'cos and I dont think many people will have an issue?

If you ask me though, with all the european laws of human rights and freedom to express opinions etc the do-gooders will state a case for this rediculous way of communicating to become accepable.  HOWEVER, surely it will have to be standardized first because there are so many variations of words.  Its like aplpying for a job with your C.V written in german or spanish and just assuming the person can read what you are saying... clearly its an issue that needs to be resolved by the government.  The fundamentals must start in the Education system Mr Blair can be so proud of

Get him out and lets get back to Mrs Thatchers ways hahaha

Tim Sims:

Strange to think that it would become the accepted way of communicating.  I openly admit to using some abreviations in text, however,  only if the total number of characters exceeds the limit for 1 message. Hahaha, Im tight... so I go back and shorten some of the words, but only VERY obvious things...  Its quicker to text using predictive if you ask me.

Things like 'dats' and 'cuz' really get on my nerves. They are more about trying to be cool rather than shortening ... the first one is on letter shorter thant Thats and just put 'cos and I dont think many people will have an issue?

I'm the same, text messages cost me 10p a go, so it's prudent to be economical with your words!

Shortening words with apostrophes isn't of the same ilk if you ask me - it actually make for a more readable experience, as it can sometimes be used to convey a regional twang in a good way  

i use a little when i txt on my phone but that is it. and yes sometimes i accidently slip some into this forum but its just a case of missing a G of theend of a word nothing major. it really enoys me and the other forum i go on.they have banned it and will have a moan/edit your post if you use it.

my mates mom is a high school teacher andshe was telling me hoe sometimes she will be reading through there work and they are spelling things in the so called txt language she then asks them about it and they think thats how to spell things.its like its taking over peoples heads ands pushing good old queens english out of there heads. thats really bad.

It really does annoy me, such as on myspace, when i see people of my own age writing like retards. Thing is, the people who write in txt spk often their grammar and English is really poor anyway, so i think theres a link between people who write in txt spk and people who generally find it hard to string a sentence together. I do it on my mobile as much as the next man, which is acceptible, as you said it saves money!

But to do it typing on a keyboard is just retarded. As i said, i've done so many essays/coursework/ etc thats typed in my time i am a really fast typer and just find it quicker just to type proper sentences out than keep abreviating.

 

i voted doesn't bother me, sometimes its easy to read and i dont have a problem with it.

there are some words which i can't understand but generally im fine with it.

i once saw a paragraph in which i think the first letter was swapped with the end letter in everyword and apparently the human brain doesnt read the whole word and can easily recognise all the words. so it this must mean that 'txt talk' can possible be translated with ease

Sure, it's less formal on here, so you type how you talk - this allows for an accent or personality to be conveyed, but I don't know anyone who speaks in such a lazy and incomprehensible manner to justify writing in that crap.... I group them with the idiots who are unable to articulate their thoughts and will just resort to using their fists out of frustration.

i voted doesn't bother me, sometimes its easy to read and i dont have a problem with it.

there are some words which i can't understand but generally im fine with it.

i once saw a paragraph in which i think the first letter was swapped with the end letter in everyword and apparently the human brain doesnt read the whole word and can easily recognise all the words. so it this must mean that 'txt talk' can possible be translated with ease

I remember, that was on an email which got banded around a while back. It proved that the human brain only looks at the letters in the middle of a word, and starting and ending letters are filtered out so the word is correctly understood.

While thats interesting to note, I don't think it extends to txt spk, where words are broken down into their phonetic sounding contruction and shortened for some god knows reason....

I find it difficult to read - whereas the above mentioned study had no mental impact on my tiny little mind! 

God their allowing it to be used in exams in NZ!

Tabs:

God their allowing it to be used in exams in NZ!

 

What did I tell you... its inevitable

I fink im gun jump on da band wagen lyk.... if u cnt beat em join em

Tim Sims:

Tabs:

God their allowing it to be used in exams in NZ!

 

 

What did I tell you... its inevitable

I fink im gun jump on da band wagen lyk.... if u cnt beat em join em

Mikedav:

U iz just not down wit da kidz innit. 

Text speak on forums makes me wish there was a device that allows you to punch people in the head through your screen.

LMAO!  Mike, you just echoed my feelings entirely

I agree with using shortened phonetic spelling on a mobile phone as 160 chars isn't always quite enough for what you need to say and it can end up costing you a small fortune.

When I see 'txt speak' used on forums, blogs etc I immediately make a decision about the person who has typed the entry and that decision is not very flattering.
I assume that either they do not have the intelligence to grammatise correctly OR they are just too lazy to grammatise correctly. Either way it speaks volumes about the person behind the text. Half witted and lazy usually springs to mind.

It is just as easy to grammatise and spell correctly as it is to use txt speak so if someone uses txt speak deliberately to sound cool then again, that speaks volumes about that person's social standing.
If you are content to allow the world to see that you make a conscious decision to misspell and grammatise incorrectly then don't expect the world in general to treat you with respect and as an equal.

In particular the opinion that a person generates from seeing 'txt speak' is that (because of the two reasons above) is that of a