Why does text language contain so many abbreviations?

As most people know, text messages often use abbreviations of words as well the use of letters and numerals in replacements for words. There could be several different reasons for this. Reasons include the use of abbreviations in certain contexts such as knitwrite (the language used in knitting instructions), the language in teletext, the size and shape of the phone screens and keypads.

Examples of the language used in SMS text messages include THX for 'thanks', MSG for 'message', B4 for 'before', U for 'you', CUL8R for 'see you later' and lol for 'laugh out loud'.

Maybe some abbreviations have originated from knitwrite text that uses abbreviations such as:
Alt (alternative)
Beg (beginning)
cont (continue)
dec (decrease/ decreasing)

A lot of the abbreviations used in knitwrite text turn up in SMS text messages, however some words don't turn up in SMS texts. This is probably because words that are abbreviated are field specific to the subject of knitting. Also, the types of people that tend to knit are elderly people as it is a hobby they have been brought up with. However, this doesn't fit the stereotype that young people are the main culprits for the change in language in text messages. Although this is the stereotype, the people that tend to abbreviate in SMS texts are older people rather than young people.

Why do older people tend to abbreviate more often than younger people? Well, it could be that they are trying to be up to date with the technology of today, or simply that it is quicker and easier for them to abbreviate their words. Older people seem to think that all young people use abbreviations in texts because it is the new thing to do and that they all understand it. This means that older people might use abbreviations to try and relate to the younger people because they think that is what everyone does. However, it seems to be the other way round. It is also likely that people started using abbreviations in texts because the screens and keypads are smaller. The older phone models have typically small screens and keypads that have 3 letters on one number button. This means that it takes three times as long to get to a letter than it would if they were separate. This means that using fewer letters would make a text message a lot quicker and easier to write.

Even though phone technology has developed massively to make it easier to type out the words fully, older people still tend to use the older model phones because they think it's easier. This results in the use of abbreviations more than younger generations that have phones such as iPhone and HTCs that are easier to type out the words fully on small computer keyboard style screens. Does this mean that as technology develops, the use of abbreviations in text messages will slowly decrease and die out?

Kristina Whitney