Международный школьный научный вестник

Научный журнал для старшеклассников и учителей ISSN 2542-0372

Introduction

Most people use the Internet almost every day. For example, we can chat using it. It is often hard to text much information in a short time if it’s necessary, so people started using abbreviations while chatting. Nevertheless, there is a big amount of them and not everybody knows what they mean.

The purpose is to explore the ways abbreviations are used while communicating; to figure out their meanings and what they consist of in order to use them in a correct way.

The subject of research are Abbreviations of the English language that are used while communicating on the Internet.

The methods of the research areanalysis, comparison and search.

Tasks:

To prove the importance of abbreviations and their high prevalence.

To prepare examples of abbreviations and analyse them.

To describe the way the abbreviations are used while chatting and why.

To explain the purpose of using abbreviations.

To describe how abbreviations were created.

To determine the types of abbreviations.

To clarify whether using abbreviations are appropriate while a business dialogue on the Internet

To explain how to read abbreviations.

Main Body

An abbreviation (from Latin brevis, meaning short) is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method. It may consist of a group of letters or words taken from the full version of the word or phrase; for example, the word abbreviation can itself be represented by the abbreviation «abbr.», «abbrv.», or «abbrev.»[1].

Abbreviations exist in any language and play a huge role. Ignorance or incorrect use of a particular abbreviation in English may lead to a rather awkward situation or misunderstanding of what the interlocutor wants to express with a particular phrase.

Nowadays abbreviations are actively used on the Internet particularly while communication. For example, people can use abbreviations when they need to send a message in a hurry or when phrases are massive and hard to write.

Abbreviations were used even in the early stages of the existence of the English language. For example, in the handwritten copies of the ancient poem "Beowulf" there were various abbreviations as well.

During the 15th-17th centuries lots of new abbreviations appeared. It was customary to replace the letter combination «er» with one icon in order to write words such as «master», «over» or even «exacerbate». Such minor abbreviations were an important sign of people's desire to reduce the time of rewriting medieval texts.[1].

In the 19th century, the abbreviation «OK» appeared in Boston and it quickly took over the entire United States of America. Nowadays this word is no longer considered as the abbreviation.

Since then abbreviations have been developed significantly and also increased in their number.

Abbreviations may consist of symbols apart from the letters, such as numbers or various signs.[5]

There are four main types of abbreviations in English:

1. Graphical (shortening)

2. Lexical

3. Blending (merging)

4. Digispeak (digital language)[2]

Here are some examples of the most wide-spread and popular abbreviations that are frequently used while chatting:

& – and

0 – nothing

2 – two, to, too

2DAY – today

EZ – easy

2MORO / 2MROW – tomorrow

2NITE / 2NYT – tonight

WAN2 – to want to

2U –to you

IAO – goodbye

4U – for you

PCM – please call me

PLS – please

DNR – dinner

PS – parents

QT – cutie

RUOK – are you ok?

ASAP – as soon as possible

ATB – all the best

KDS – kids

HRU – how are you

COS / CUZ – because

BTW – by the way

CUL8R – call you later / see you later

CUL – see you later

CWOT – complete waste of time

D8 – date

IDK – I don’t know

EOD – end of debate (usually used while an argument)

F2F / FTF – face to face

GF – girlfriend

GMTA – great minds think alike

GR8 – great

HAND – have a nice day

HB2U – happy birthday to you

HOLS – holidays

4E – forever

SIS – sister

U – you

WR – were

IDTS – I don’t think so

ILU – I love you

SMMR – summer

IYKWIM – if you know what I mean

JK – just kidding

SOB – stressed out bad

KIT – to keep in touch

KOTC – kiss on the cheek

L8R – later

LSKOL – long slow kiss on the lips

LTNS – long time no see

FYI – for your information

Some letters in English sound like frequently used words:

R – are

U – you

Y – why

K – ok

C – to see

The same applies to numbers. Some numerals are consonant with completely different words:

2 – to (preposition or the word «too»)

4 – for

8 – ate

Examples: some1 (someone), 2day (today), be4 (before), d8 (date), f2t (free to talk), gr8 (great), 2nite (tonight)

Blending type of abbreviations deserves special attention simply because it means mixing words which may be confusing:

fruit+juice= fruice

boat+hotel =botel

documentary + drama = docudrama

medical + news = medinews

slim+gymnastics= slimnastics

internet+citizen = netizen

word + wardrobe = wordrobe.

As a rule, abbreviations consist of the first letters of a word or phrase and are usually read by alphabetical letter names. For example, «BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation)[2].

But, there are some abbreviations that are read like a word. For example, «UNESCO».

We can also come across abbreviations that can be read in two ways. Abbreviation «etc.» can be pronounced both in English (and so on) and in Latin (et cetera).

If you open a student book, you can also notice «e.g.» which is often put before some examples. People frequently read this abbreviation as «for example» but you can use the Latin expression «exempli gratia». [9]

Besides, communicating on the Internet can help to discuss business matters. The question is whether abbreviations are appropriate while a business dialogue. They can also be divided into formal and informal ones. Here is some examples that can be used in formal messages:

§ Dept. – Department

§ Ltd. – Limited

§ Perf. – Perfect

§ Bus.–Business

§ Corp. – Corporation

§ w/ – With

§ w/o – Without

§ OOO – Out of (the) office

§ POC – Point of contact

§ TOS – Terms of service

§ Def. – Definitely.

When chatting on the Internet people often use abbreviations of time as well:

§ Hr. – Hour

§ Sec. – Second

§ Min. – Minute

§ A.M. – Ante Meridiem (Before Noon)

§ P.M. – Post Meridiem (After Noon)

§ Mo. – Month

§ Cent. – Century

§ Wk. – Week

§ Yr .– Year

Moreover, months can also be shortened:

§ Jan – January

§ Feb – February

§ Mar – March

§ Apr – April

§ Aug – August

§ Sep – September

§ Oct – October

§ Nov – November

§ Dec – December

May, June and July are written as they are.[2]

It is important to be aware of the most popular abbreviations’ meanings. You may be confused getting a message if the interlocutor uses an abbreviation you don’t know. For example, «LOL» may be decrypted as «Lots of love» which is wrong as it has completely different meaning.[8]

At this point, let’s analyse some of the most popular abbreviations that are used while chatting:

1) LOL and ROFL

«LOL» means «Laugh(ing) Out Loud» while «ROFL» means «Rolling On The Floor Laughing» These are extremely popular abbreviations that have been actively used for more than 20 years to express laughter.

2) DM and PM

«DM» means «direct message» and «PM» means «private message». They are generally synonymous and mean denoting direct, private messages. For example, «If you have any question, PM me».

3) IMO and IMHO

When discussing something «IMO» or «IMHO» are often used. The first one means «in my opinion» and the second is «in my humble opinion». These abbreviations are used to emphasize the delicate expression of their opinion on the topic under discussion, to indicate that this is your view of the situation or the subject of the dispute, and not the conclusion of a specialist. For example, «He was right, IMHO».[7]

4) LMK

This one means «Let Me Know». It is usually placed at the end of the letter and invites the recipient to share his opinion on the described case or to keep you informed of events.[6].

TLTR

It means «Too Long To Read». In this case, your message probably contains too much information that could be written in a shorter way.

5) XOXO

«XOXO» is a symbolic image of the action «hugs and kisses». This abbreviation is special because it can’t be decrypted. The letter «X» resembles lips folded in a bow and means a kiss. Someone considers the «X» to be a symbol of two people kissing. The left and right halves are represented as separate lips. The letter «O» symbolizes the embrace between the kissing.

6) RLY

The pretty short word «Really» which means «true», «really» can be shortened to «RLY» in the messages.

7) BRB

«BRB» is an abbreviation of the phrase «Be Right Back». Thus, the interlocutor informs that they have left, but have promised to return. Usually after this abbreviation people write the reason for the absence.

8) TYT

«Take Your Time». It is used when you one is waiting for somebody’s response, but not urgently.

10) AFAIK

If you want to express your opinion with a certain degree of uncertainty then you can use the acronym «AFAIK» which means «As Far As I Know».

Conclusion

Most of us nowadays use the Internet, particularly for chatting. Abbreviations can save your time and express your thoughts or feelings in a shorter and different way. Therefore, they got even more important as the Internet appeared. It’s unnecessary to know all of them. [4] What’s more, it’s almost impossible as their amount is simply enormous and is still increasing. It’s enough to be aware of ones that are commonly used, such as «LOL», «IDK», «ASAP» and so on. Using abbreviations, you can make an entire sentence, such as «HRU? LTNS. LMK if U WAN2 meet sometime L8R». It’s a great opportunity to write lots of information briefly and quickly. That’s one of the reasons why many people like using abbreviations while communicating and are already used to it.[3]