OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND LANGUAGES

OUMH1203
ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

Name: Matric No.:

NRIC No.:
Telephone No.: Email Address
Tutor:
Local Learning Center:

SEMESTER MAY 2010

The abbreviation of words in SMS

will corrupt our language

OUMH1203

ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION

LITERATURE REVIEW

SAMPLING

CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

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Introduction
Short Messaging Service is commonly known as SMS. SMS is slowly gaining momentum as an
economical messaging solution. Nowadays SMS has become identical with the text messages sent to a
mobile phone. It is a quickest mode of communication and a cheaper way to communicate when
compared with outgoing calls, voice messaging or web access. SMS can be sent to mobile phone as a
text message without disturbing others around you, while you are busy with an important work, and
anywhere else where voice calls may not be permitted. In other words, SMS can be done at any place at
any time if you want to.
SMS is a text message that can put in up to 160 characters of length that can be sent at one time. All the
cellular network providers offer SMS with certain SMS level or text messaging capability and has limit
the number of characters can be put into one message. The SMS features and costs may vary according
to the plan that suit to individual needs. Many people using abbreviated language to minimize the
characters is becomes a trend for most of the people nowadays. The purpose using the least amount of
characters is to get the message across to someone else without taking up a lot of time and be more cost
saving. The abbreviation of language used for SMS is also known as SMS language. The SMS language
does not follow Standard grammar rule and the words that are used are not found in formal dictionaries.
It is just a simple and short words to use for communication and the people who use this language will
have common understanding amongst themselves.

Literature Review
With todays advancements in communication technology, mobile phones have become a necessity for
social survival and SMS has played a very important role in our daily routine as well as global business
generally. But there are people are still arguing that Malaysians have not improved their language skills!
In fact theyre getting worse with the advent of new communication technologies and the creation of
modern language registers like contracted email and SMS language the use of short forms, acronyms
and abbreviations; the mixing of Malay and English colloquial language and slang. The implication has
results the corruption of language and lowers the level of language in spelling of youth writing.
According to Prof. Madya Dr Supyan Hussin (2009) SMS language will corrupt our national language if
people using it as standard language in the context of official communications, such as in letters, books,
newspapers, essays, and official media. Nowadays it is understandable that why people tends to use the
abbreviation of words, code-switching, code-mixing and emoticons in SMS. But if SMS language only
used in text messaging, informal or unofficial communication and communication between people who
can understand the code given, then it should not be considered as corruption of language.
In Malaysia, code-switching (Bahasa Rojak) is form part of the Malaysian identity. Recently the
government has decided to empower the correct usage of national language, especially in the private
sector. For example local TV station, TV3 has changed the name of Karnival Sure Heboh into
Karnival Jom Heboh. And recently our Deputy Information Minister expressed his intention to keep
Bahasa Rojak out of local films.
In Malaysia University of Technology Mara (UiTM), Prof Raishah Abd Hamid commented that the
spelling used in Yahoo Messenger, GoogleTalk, and MSN Messenger has affected the vocabulary used
during the study and wrote the essay. "My own experience is written sentence review found that some
students who were familiar with SMS words to do the same thing while studying. The common spelling
errors such as use 'U' in place of" You "without realizing it due to too familiar with the daily
conversation in cyberspace."
Prof Datuk Dr Nik Safiah Karim had also relate the situation of SMS language in the United States some
time ago when a teacher complain do not understand the written language by the student.

The SMS language has found to be detrimental effect on language proficiency of learners. The learners
as mixed up standard language learn at school with SMS language. Evidence shows learners get
influences by SMS language when doing official written work such as assignment, test and reports. An
example of text script extract from article (IADIS International Conference Mobile Learning, 2005).
if we do get the money how shud it be used?
The learner used SHUD instead of SHOULD. This is the influence of SMS language, although the
pronunciation of these two words is the same but for official written must used standard language. And
it is for sure the word SHUD will not acceptable according to English grammar and will treat it as
wrong spelling
Some teachers believe the abbreviations used in text messaging are assaulting written English. Students
are writing exam paper using poor punctuation, bad grammar and inappropriate abbreviations.
Sometimes students do not realize that they are using SMS language in their academic writing.
Analysis has show students are bad in grammar on SMS language impact. Lee (2002) notes that
teachers say papers are being written with shortened words, improper capitalization and punctuation
and characters like &, $ and @. Meaning the frequent use the SMS will affect student in grammar and
also spelling. Kolesnikova (2008) criticizes the use of chat language in essays and homework. Chat
languages such as below table obtain from Vodacom. Vodacom is a pan-African mobile
telecommunications company, and was the first cellular network in South Africa.
SMS LANGUAGE
LUV
FYI
2day
B4
CU
SWYP
IMHO
KISS
PAW
F2T
BTW

WORDS IN FULL
Love
For your info
Today
Before
see you
So whats your problem?
In my humble opinion
Keep it simple, stupid
Parents are watching
Free to talk
By the way
5

SIT
HAK
TTYL
LOL
BRB

Stay in touch
Hugs and kisses
Talk to you later
Laugh out loud
Be right back

SMS words will create confusing because of their dual meanings, there are both in conventional
meaning and SMS meaning.
Example
HAND
ATM
TIME

Coventional meaning
part of your body at the end of your arms
automated teller machine
quality clock measure or period

SMS meaning
have a nice day
at the moment
tears in my eyes

Below another example SMS word has different definition.

ASAP = "As Soon As Possible," "A Stupid Acting Person," "After School Activities Program" and
"Always Stop and Pray."
Some SMS word AFAIR meaning as far as I remember may be misspelled English word AFFAIR
which means an event or sexual relationship, this will create misunderstanding and confusion of
meaning.
Table below are the language abbreviations in our national language (Bahasa Melayu) which will bring
significant implication in corruption of language.
SMS LANGUAGE
BNS
TK
DMK
UM
SM
SPg

WORDS IN FULL
Bila nak sampai?
Terima Kasih
Dah makan?
Untuk makluman
Selamat malam
Selamat Pagi

The consequence will lead to downgrade on national language and affect the purity and originality of
language.

SMS language may also have influence on official document such as memorandum and circulars. People
may think to save space and time and believe the language used is acceptable. Below is an example of
such circular (sample extract from IADIS International Conference Mobile Learning, 2005).
To: All lecturers
From: HOD-Applied Languages
Date: 13 October 2003
REMINDER
SPEECH AND POSTER ELIMINATIONS
WHEN? 15 OCTOBER 2003
TIME? 9:15-11:00
WHERE? LF119
C U THERE!
__________________
MH DOLO (HOD)

Population and Sampling

The purpose of this survey is to obtain opinion does shortening up words in SMS will corrupt our
language. A survey by questionnaire has been carried out to 30 of teenagers and adults who are having
mobile phone. A breakdown of the responses is listed below in Table 1, 2 and 3.
Table 1

Age
15-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
> 40

Agree
1
1
4
6
3
3
18

Disagree
4
5
1
2
0
0
12

Total
Respondents
5
6
5
8
3
3
30

Table 2

Table 3

The data collect from the questionnaires show 60% of respondents agree that the shortening up words in
SMS will corrupt the language. It can be seen from the results in Table 1 and 2 that mostly for
respondent age above 30 agreed abbreviated language will corrupt our language. Out of these 30
respondents, there are only 5 respondents willing to shares their view point on how SMS corrupt
language. Thus, the findings above are not representing the population of the entire mobile phone user.
Conclusion
In a multilingual society like Malaysia, the mixed languages such as newly created words, codeswitching and code-mixing is more drastic than in a monolingual society. People have to distinguish
between the forms of official and unofficial forms to avoid corruption of language. SMS language will
not have directly impact on our language. Standard language such as spelling, punctuation and grammar
are compulsory for formal and official writing. SMS language is only suitable and use for informal or
unofficial writing such as e-mail, text messaging to speed communication.

References:

1. David S. Walonick (2005). Elements of research proposal and report. Retrieved July 03, 2010,
from http://www.statpac.com/research-papers/research-proposal.htm#general

2. Nazmi Yaakub (2005). Menyorot perkembangansemasa bahasa melayu, Berita Harian. Retrieved
July 03, 2010, from http://dbp.gov.my/lamandbp/main.php?
Content=articles&ArticleID=453&IID=&PHPSESSID=35776c764db04b89bc461da85781f977
3. Afiq Hanif (2009). Singkatan Cemar bahasa? Retrieved July 04, 2010, from
http://www.hmetro.com.my/Current_News/myMetro/Wednesday/itMetro/20090128091423/Artic
le/indexv_html
4. Hazadiah Mohamad Dahan, Noor Zaina Idris and Roslinda Wab (2010). Language change in
Malaysia. Retrieved July 04, 2010, from
http://www.researchsea.com/html/article.php/aid/5105/cid/5?
PHPSESSID=qb4ph20dnpdnu2fqk9bqko9db0
5. Supyan Hussin (2009). Bahasa SMS. Retrieved July 04, 2010, from
http://supyanhussin.wordpress.com/2009/07/11/bahasa-sms/
6. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (2008). Panduan Singkatan SMS. Retrieved July 03, 2010, from
http://www.scribd.com/doc/32508869/Panduan-Singkatan-SMS-Bahasa-Melayu
7. Mohd. Sahandri Gani, Mohd. Reza Ghorbani1, Saifuddin Kumar (2009). The impact of
electronic communication technology on written language. Retrieved July 04, 2010, from
http://www.teacher.org.cn/doc/ucedu200911/ucedu20091107.pdf
8. Baylor College of Medicine (2005). Teens tap into text messaging craze. Retrieved July 05,
2010, from http://www.bcm.edu/news/item.cfm?newsID=519
9. IADIS (2005). The impact of SMS Language on language proficiency of learners and the SMS
dictionaries. Retrieved July 05, 2010, from
http://www.iadis.net/dl/final_uploads/200506L022.pdf

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10. Gahran, A. (2010). Survey: U.S. mobile Web access growing fast. Retrieved July 10, 2010,from
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/07/08/mobile.internet.access.pew/index.html?
fbid=HXIMyBDPT1g
11. Lenhart, A., Ling, R,. Campbell, S,. & Purcell, K,. (2010). Teens and Mobile Phones. Retrieved
June 28, 2010 From http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-MobilePhones.aspx

12. Kolesnikova, M., May 2008, Teens are Letting Emoticons and Other Form of Chat-speak slip
into Their Essays and Homework.
13. Philipkoski, K., (2005) The web not the Death of the language , Retrieved June 26, 2010 From
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2005/02/66671

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