SMS speak (also known as chatspeak, txt, txtspk, SMS language etc.) is an abbreviated form of English-language slang used primarily in mobile phone messages. It evolved to accommodate the small number of characters allowed (early SMSs permitted only 160 characters), and as a convenient language for the small keyboards on mobile phones.
Examples
SMS speak: OMG that was such a gr8 party last nite LOL
Translation: Oh my God, that was such a great party last night (laughs out loud)
Usage discouraged on TT
SMS speak is now common in real-time chat forums. Its usage is discouraged on the TT chat forum, however, because it is difficult to read and, since there is no limit on the number of characters per message, there is no need for abbreviation. The letters don't cost extra. Also, use of SMS speak is just plain gay anyway. No self-respecting person could possibly be proud of using it.
Extreme example:
u cn prb rd ths f u try hrd enuf. - "You can probably read this if you try hard enough."
The effort required for one person to type the full words is nowhere near the individual effort required by hundreds of readers to decode the SMS speak, especially by non-native speakers, though regionalisms make such abbreviation difficult to understand even for native English-speakers.
External links: