With the popularity and rise in real-time text-based communications, such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, instant messaging (IM) is the conversation platform where two or more people exchange messages online and receive an immediate response.
Instant messaging has a language all its own. Because it is quick, immediate and compact, long sentences or phrases are written in short letters a.k.a. Internet acronyms, text message jargon, initialisms, abbreviations or cyber slang.
They are commonly used in e-mail, online chatting, online discussion forum postings, instant messaging, and in text messaging (SMS).
Ever since I can remember, I know that TY is for “thank you”,and TGIF is “Thank God it’s Friday” but I am not used to using “YW” for “You’re welcome”? Other letters have sprouted with their own meanings like “gtg” (got to go) if you want to say you need to go and “brb” if you want to say “ I will be right back”.
Do you know what “AFAIK” is? It is “As far as I know”. And do you know that “WIIFM” stands for “What’s in it for me?”.
MYMP is the name of a popular singing duo and everyone understands that it means “Make your mama proud”. So when I saw words painted on a wall – Drugs make your mama cry – I quickly formed the letters DMYMC which means “Drugs (or Don’t) make your mama cry”.
Recently, there’s YOLO , meaning “You only live once”. You hear our youth mouthing it so often. Even an insurance company has used it for an advertising campaign.
Letters have become powerful in modern communication. If you are not updated with cyber language, you would have a hard time understanding a message. And this is not just the youth’s preference.
I work online and often get into IMs with foreign clients. In the middle of our chat, the CEO of a company wrote “ATM, I’d like to interview them first.” I admit I got lost or a few seconds starting at the letters A-T-M. What does an automated teller machine have to do with the interviews. And then I got it. ATM is ‘At the moment!’
Has the English language been kicked in the stomach with the popularity of abbreviated instant messaging? I’d like to believe it is. And the effect is disconcerting. Students’ writing is far from excellent. They’re not observing basic subject-verb agreement and worse, they spell words incorrectly.
On the other hand, I also understand that with the fast pace of living today, one needs to catch up with the times. If using Internet abbreviations can help us reach out to people and catch their attention, then I am all for it.
Even religious communities have adapted to this trend. There’s PTL! for Praise the Lord!, ASL for “as the Spirit leads”, and GBU for “God bless you”.
And if you’ve been following this column, you should have noticed that I am fond of using “WWJD” which stands for “What would Jesus do?
I just pray that as we move further deep into this century and see modern changes in society, we don’t get wrapped up in just putting letters together to abbreviate our chats and conversations such that we forget to stop, talk to God, be quiet and listen to Him in our hearts.
If we are fond of texting, chatting and writing posts in our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, make time to exchange silent messages with Him.
“Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God,” says Diana Robinson.
So let’s enjoy the modern lifestyle but let’s not tell God, “TTYL” (Talk to you later.) Let’s not just exclaim “OMG!” but say it with awe and reverence like “Oh, my God! You are truly might and powerful!”.
Let’s make it a habit to listen to God’s daily messages and let Him write His plans for us.
“Life is God’s novel. Let him write it.”~Isaac Bashevis Singer
He doesn’t need to abbreviate letters to make us understand. He will speak in our hearts crystal clear through people, events, and the Holy Bible.
God’s message is simple: “JTLYK, ILY. I am your BFF and if you allow me to, I will always TC of you. TMWFI. XOXOXOX…”
Translation: “Just to let you know, I love you. I am your best friend forever and if you allow me to, I will always take care of you. Take my word for it. Hugs, kisses….”
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