Txt msging Part 2: The vocab list

Earlier this week, E-cyclopedia wrote about the boom in "txt msging" - sending short messages over mobile phones.

It followed a spate of adverts for different phones and networks, all trying to persuade potential customers that where words are concerned, less can be more. (Click here for the original article.)

The system used in the UK at the moment (SMS) limits messages to just 160 characters. And the process of writing messages can be laborious to say the least.

So there is a real premium in cutting out unnecessary letters - for instance, why write "unnecessary" when "uncsry" will do?

BBC News Online user Joyce Pelella, a 75-year-old UK ex-pat now living in Florida, took time off from running from Hurricane Floyd, to help us take it one step further.

Mobile phones still a growing market

Joyce worked as a court stenographer for years: before the advent of computers, stenography lived or died by finding short forms for familiar phrases.

So for instance, in the graphic above, the phrase "WOIBLT CU SOONS POBL" could be unzipped to mean "Would I be able to see you as soon as possible?"

That's 20 characters instead of 46.

Joyce was even able to supply some spying glamour to the story.

Her mother and uncle trained spies at Bletchley Park, the top secret base where British intelligence used the infamous Enigma machine to crack wartime codes.

Joyce even worked there as a courier.

"Whole sentences can be accomplished with approx. four letters," she said. " The context of what is being written keeps you straight as to what the word is.

She suggested some of the following abbreviations might come in useful for anyone txt msging.

Although they might appear nonsense at first, there is a certain logic in them.

(Feel free to add your suggestions, by e-mailing them to [e-mail]).

WOUBLT - Would you be able to?
WOIBLT - Would I be able to?
ULBLT - You will be able to
DOUTH - Do you think
FUR - If you are
WEFD - We have had
WEFB - We have been
MAIFB- May have been
WEFND - We have not had
IFD - I have had
WOUFD - Would have had
THAUF - Thank you for
FOURM - For your information
WURD - Where do you reside
ULBLT - You will be able to
ILBT - I will be able to
COFB - Could have been
THEFB - They have been
WOBGLD - Would be glad
THAU - Thank you;
SMAFT - As a matter of fact
SRULT - As a result
FURNT - If you are interested
SOONS - As soon as
POBL - Possible
THAIM(T) - That I am (not)
POFS - Post office
AOT - Another
SHUBL(T) - Should be able (to);
WERG - We are going to;
NAIBD - Neighbourhood
NIG - Anything
MED - Immediate
PERL - Personal
FURNT - If you are not
GING - Beginning
WRIG - Writing

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WOUBLT - Would that be Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato?
FOURM - A funny thing happened on the way...
WURD - something on the streets...
MED - Sea immediately around Malta
PERL - computer language instruction that follows KNIT2
WRIG - do you want some chewing gum?

Submitted by: Ken Thornton-Smith

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Here are some terms used in chat rooms and when playing games online

c u l8tr m8 - See You Later Mate
lol - Laughing Out Load (rotfl - Rolling on the floor laughing)
gr8 - Great
u@? - Where are you (You At)

Submitted by: Neil Skinner

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a/s/l? - age/sex/location

Submitted by: Charles Blassberg