Texting as A Second Language: Kid-2-Kid Talk

My Kid: "Sup"

Friend: "Sup"

My Kid: "Wat u doin RU goin 2moro?"

Friend: "Ya U??"

My Kid: "Ya wat u wer n?"

Friend: "Dunno wanna cm ovr?

My Kid: "K call u aft dnnr BFN"

Ever see this on your kid's cell phone or as they're IM-ing their friends on the computer? Welcome to the world of kid-to-kid language. It seems IM-ing and text messaging are the modes of choice. Actual phone calls have become a secondary orphan. I've been told by the experts (my tween and her friends) that messages communicated via IM-ing & texting would otherwise not be communicated via a call. Seems like kids become a little bolder when going the IM way.

I have a tween with a mobile phone and a computer. She has a mom who regularly checks the cell phone bill and believes in passwords. Still, all the hovering in the world did not prepare me for the lingo in their SMS (short messaging system) world. Granted I have since started texting her when needing to send important information at a time when I couldn't make a call.

"Rnng lte will b thr 15 mins do not go wit cristy" would otherwise be a voicemail that would've gone something like this, "Hey honey, this meeting is running late so I'll be there in about 15 minutes. Do not catch a ride with Christy, just wait for me in the gym." It's easy for me to see how this new language started.

Sigh. Seems like one of my greatest concerns is coming true -- her texting and IM-ing ways have spilled over into her school work. Although she's basically pretty good at maintaining a clear understanding between proper English usage for written papers and presentations, there have been times I've seen proper- and IM-English paths crossing: "For my history project, I researched how computers came 2 b in our society."

Turns out many kids are experiencing the same thing based on an article I read recently. Although dismayed by how the English language is being ripped to shreds, many educators are finding that texting and IM-ing has actually improved the writing skills of students who otherwise would not put forth the effort to improving it in the first place. Apparently IM-ing has opened up a new way for many teachers to segue their English lesson plans into these young minds. Who knew?

Texting as a second language. Will I start seeing "TSL" as a course offering at my local community college? And for those who've completed an ESL class, will TSL be the next requisite so they can better understand their children?

"Dunno but u can bet ur a*s ima b rt thr if it hpns BFN"

Translation: "I don't know, but you can bet your a*s I'm going to be right there if it does happen. Bye for now." :)