How did text chat language start?
Abbreviations such as 'lol' and 'G2G' seem to be commonly used in msn messenger or yahoo messenger chats. These abbreviations are used extensively in text or SMS chats on mobile phones too. This new abbreviated language emerged with the rise of real time communications because there needed to be a language tailored to the immediacy and compactness of these new communication media.
In msn messenger chats (windows live messenger) and yahoo messenger chats we need to be able to reply and express msn emotions fast so there's a flow to the conversation. Ever feel like steam could be coming out of your computer or phone when you're having an msn emoticons chat because you're typing so fast? Using abbreviations or msn emoticons means there's a lot less typing to be done to get the message across.
If you've ever been in a chat room or received an instant message or text message from someone that seemed to be in its own foreign language, take a look at this great Webopedia Quick Reference Guide we found. It will help you understand the text chat lingo by providing the definitions to 700 frequently used text chat abbreviations. Wow. If you want to know more about the original text style of msn emoticons, take a look at the emoticon style guide for text emoticons that we've created.
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