That is – “If you can’t read this, read this article.”
What the heck is that? Well, it’s the kind of “code” that you will find if you are texting, or using SMS (Short Message Service) on your cellphone. Texting is huge in the Philippines. Even the people in lower economic classes have cellular phones in many cases. For a lot of people, their cellular phone is the most valuable item that they own!
When I first started coming to the Philippines in 1990, there were no cellular phones here. I came back many times during the early and mid ’90s, and still no cellular phones. When I came here in 1999, the cellular phone was ubiquitous. A lot of people had them.
When Feyma, the kids and I arrived in Manila, we were sitting in the domestic airport waiting for our flight to GenSan. There was a Muslim lady sitting near to us, she was wearing all black dress, with her entire head covered, only her eyes were showing. She was holding a cellular phone, though, and doing something with it. Feyma and I wondered what she was doing. The best we could figure was that maybe she was playing a game on her phone, the way she kept pecking away at the keys. Little did we know, she was texting somebody! The more we stayed here during our 1999 vacation in the Philippines, the more texting we saw. We could not imagine that we would ever be interested in texting. Why not just call? That’s’ how we did it back in the States after all.
Over the past couple of weeks, an Australian friend has been visiting. I’ve known Leon for years, but only through the internet. When he first came to town, if he needed to contact me he would always call me on my cellphone. It was kind of unusual, because most people don’t call me, they text. But, I remembered that back in Australia, like the rest of the Western World, most people called. After only a few days, Leon never called anymore, he always texted! We got talking about it one day, and Leon told me that he switched to texting because he found out about the price. He told me that back in Australia, each text was a certain amount. I have forgotten how much, but it was expensive, maybe like 50 cents per text message. Here in the Philippines, it costs P1 to text somebody. To call costs much more, the cheapest being about P7 per minute. If you are calling a different cellular network or a landline, the price is much more than P7. So, you can send 7 text messages for the price that it costs to talk for 1 minute or less. No wonder people here text! I have been told by people from other countries about the price of texting too. One German friend told me it was US$2.50 per text in Germany! Wow.
My biggest problem with texting is the way everything is abbreviated, and words are interchanged by something else that sounds like it, etc. Like the subject line of this post! I feel that it bastardizes the written language (whether it’s English, Tagalog or whatever). I enforce a rule with my kids that if they text, they must spell out the words. It has actually been studied and proven that texting is responsible for poor writing skills among kids! Texting language is similar to the language kids use when Instant Messaging on the Internet as well.
For me, I use something called “T9”. T9 is “predictive texting” where you type on the keys once per letter, instead of pecking out each character for the exact letter. When the word is completed, the T9 dictionary then guesses which word you are intending to use. If it guesses the wrong one, you punch a button to scroll through the words that match that series of letters that you punched in. T9 is complicated to learn at first, until somebody walks you through it. Once they show you, though, it is quite simple! It is also faster to use T9 if you know how to do it!
Did you know that the Philippines is the world’s leading consumer of Text messaging? It’s true. Here’s another fact that you may not know… the Philippines is the only country in the world where a President has been overthrown by Text Messaging! It’s true. In 2001, President Joseph Estrada was being tried for Impeachment, and the people of the Philippines were not satisfied with the way that the trial was being conducted. A rally of text messages helped gather a crowd at EDSA in Manila for the EDSA II Rally (the original EDSA was when President Ferdinand Marcos was thrown out from power in the ’80s). The rally concluded in the ousting of President Estrada, and the instatement of current President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, on January 21, 2001. Text messaging is widely acknowledged as the catalyst that made it happen.
Tnks 4 rdng dis. Tk cre.
I have to say that I have no problems with the abbreviated words in texting. I too look at it as a skill.
When I use to text regularly, shortening words was essential to speed things up and maximizing space. It was also fun to see how many letter you can take out while still being able to get the message across. Certain words are also abbreviated differently depending on a texting circle like the word “thanks” can be shortened as “tnks”, “thnx” or my preference “tnx” — in filipino, it can also be “Slmat” (that’s a whole sociological topic in itself).
I do pick and choose how far I shorten the words depending on the recepient. There are those that read the shortcut words easily while others have a more difficult time. Normally, I’d spell words better when texting to much older person.
To me, it only gets bothersome when that type of spelling is done on email or IM’s. Space is not an issue in these mediums so abbreviating them reflects poorly on the writer.
My wife get's on texting sprees with her friends from time to time I find it so annoying that I have instituted certain rules… like no bringing the cell to the table at dinner. I'm also trying to teach some cell phone etiquette like turning off the ringer when we are in an appointment. She's actually getting better with it. Of course there's the txt abbrv. I'm gtng used 2 it now, lik lrning a 2nd lngwge. 🙂
Hi Bob,
when I first looked at the title of this article my eyes opened wide, just for a split second at least. It almost looks very rude!! ha ha!
I use predictive texting all the time but I have slipped up by not checking the words properly on several occasions. The worst was after a relative to someone I know had died, I sent a text offering my sympathies, but I had written 'good' instead of something else (can't remember the word I intended ).
I felt like an idiot afterwards!!
Regards
Phil
Hi Louis – I agree that cellphone etiquette is another important topic that needs to be addressed.
Hi Phil – I understand perfectly. I have had the same problem myself, and it can be quite embarrassing. I try to proofread my texts before sending them now! "Good" probably came up when you tried to type "home" as that is a common mistake that I encounter too.
LOL!!! Hello all, Yup indeed it's not so long ago that we don't have that cellphone fever. Reminds me the first time I introduce my eldest sister in cellphone and texting. She laughed and says " Gee… this is kind of murdering the grammar and spelling", since she is an English teacher back there in Philippines. Tnx @ gud day 2 ol.
Technology continues to make us idiots. We say 'dot" instead of period, "Star" instead of (whatever it is called).
I remember when internet chatting started, it was accepted if you misspelled something, we just called it "Gorilla Fingers"'
If someone did commet to me, I would reply "Foniks wrkd fr me"
I do not know about texting except I see everyone else doing it. I am that one person in the world that never owned a cell phone.
Hi Mahdy – I bet texting was a shock for English Teachers when it first started! I can imagine your sister's shock!
Hi Bruce – Text grammar is very similar to chat grammar. I try to avoid it at all costs… I think it's a bad example for the kids! 😆
When I moved to the States in 1997, I was shocked at how uncommon it was in the US becasue it was already everywhere in the Philippines at that time. I always assumed that the US would always be the first in everything.
Relatives in the US thought it was a new generation fad and too techie for them and reveled in my fast fingers…until my parent came to visit and was texting away every few minutes on topics ranging from gossip to business dealings. Now, texting has picked up a bit in the States. It was marketed to teenagers at first (which I thought was hilarious) but is slowly branching out. But the costs don't make it as practical as in the Philippines.
Another economic reason why it is so popular in the Philippines is because it can be more pactical to own a cellphone than a LANline. Sometimes, it takes years (yes,that's with an "s") for a home phone application to go through.
Anyone from all income brackets can own a cellphone asap. The low cost of texting comes as an important plus. Now, it is no longer necessary to take a drive to someone's barangay/village just to have a word with them.
I no longer text as much (months really). In fact, it became a little annoying when trying to carry a dinner conversation with peers in Davao. But, it sure does get the job done. The replies are straight to the point and no need for time inducing small talk.
I used to think that abbreviating words in texting was just plain lazy… The fact that I am a foreigner with limited Bisayan vocabulary, only complicated things for me when my Filipino friends texted me. Finally, I asked a couple of my friends why they always abbreviate words. They told me that it is faster (most of my Filipino friends do not use the T9 feature), and it can be cheaper at times. They went on to explain to me that each text message is allowed a certain amount of characters, and if you exceed the number of characters allowed, it charges you an additional text message. So shortening your words allows you to say more in the allotted space. Though I know it is only about a P1 difference, I have to admit that when my messages barely push over to a second SMS, I usuly go bak & shrtn a cpl f wds. 😆
Hi Macky – Yes, I text a lot less than I used to also. But, it can also be an important communication tool if used properly!
Hi Shannon – For me, T9 is the only way to go! I love it, and it's much faster than even abbreviating the words. Only real problem is that it is only useful for English, and most locals don't text in English, as you say! 😆
I think texting is also an art and requires intelligence to be able to do it.
It really depends on when and who you're doing it with.
It's only annoying at first but once you get used to it, it's nothing.
I agree that it's not good for children but for adults who already know about language and grammar(not necessarily experts), it makes the conversation just a little bit exciting.:wink:
phew BOB, I had to read the opening line twice to make sure it was not rude, but that in itself shows how easy it is to misunderstand a text message, especialy when everything here seems use it to be a question? We are used to sending facts to people, but all my friends here never reply with a straight yes or no, its always another question thats sometimes is not related, but i am learning I can use two fingers now, some guys here talk to me texting whilst looking at me and they have no problem.
Hi kiarizona – I would agree with you that for adults the highly abbreviated words and mis spellings are OK, but for kids it's a no no.
Hi John – Yes, people here are definitely experts in texting, more than anybody in the world! When I wrote the title of this article, I didn't think about how it could appear bastos until it was pointed out in the second comment by Phil. I was thinking about changing the title, but I decided (like you say) that it really demonstrates how "text speak" can be misinterpreted. I do think that texting can be a pretty efficient method of communications! Sometimes I even feel a little aggravated when my phone rings for a voice call, because I know that it will take more of my time than a quick text would have! 😀
So evry1 s in2 txtng !
Naughty, naughty, Jul! You didn't abbreviate that fully enough! I should be So evry1 s n2 txtng! 😆
You know in the US I had Verizon as my cell provider as maybe 90% of my friends had Verizon also. That gave me the option of In-Calling (free calls to all other verizon subscribers) and In-txt (Free SMS to all other Verizon Subscribers). I daresay we all texted eachother far more often than we called one another so the whole SMS thing was nothing new to me when I came over.
Hi Louis – Would you say, though, that in general texting in the USA is far less used on a per capita basis than here? When I left the USA, nobody was texting, so I am interested to hear how it is now.
u da bomb 😆
Hi all,
Aside from personal texting, there are a lot of businesses now that revolve around it, sending out promotions via text messages where you send a special code to specific numbers like 236 or 888. You can even inquire your bank account balance via SMS. By then it'll be P2.50 per message.
Downside is, you get lots of junk on your phone inbox also. 🙁
Hi Milper – You are right! A lot of businesses are going into spam texting now. I really hate that! I used to get a lot of text spam from Marco Polo hotel. I called them and told them to take me off their list, and they obliged, which made me happy!
Hi Macky – Do you avoid abbreviations for older people and also foreigners? 😆
Anodr intrstng pst hir, Bob. 😀
Brings me back nostalgic moments there in the Philippines, especially when texting with family and friends. Well, even here in SG, I still try to txt shortly to Filipino friends. I try to avoid doing it with "local" friends here as they might not get the drift about text messages, ala-Pinoy style.
L8r again (or soon).
Hi Bob you can explain to me how to youse this T9 I don't
know. Because last year I look the sister of my wife make
text very fast for the cellphone and I am surprise.
On a similar note to this topic, here's a circulating internet meme which caught my attention a while back. (I don't know if there was really a scientific study but it made me think some more of how our brains can magnificently process written words, language, information and such…)
Here's the blurb:
"Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."
Were you able to read that easily?
Here's the unscrambled text:
"According to a researcher (sic) at Cambridge University, it doesn't matter in what order the letters in a word are, the only important thing is that the first and last letter be at the right place. The rest can be a total mess and you can still read it without problem. This is because the human mind does not read every letter by itself but the word as a whole."
Hope you enjoyed that little exercise.
As the texters would say: "cge, slmat"
BTW, I refuse to succumb to texting. I find the element of voice as a very useful dimension to communication.
My disclaimer: I do understand the texting phenomenon in the Philippines and I understand the economic reasons behind it.
Hi Bob,
Haha. I avoid abbreviations when texting to foreigners too.
But in your case, I remember making small exemptions when texting to you because I had a slight hunch you could understand the shortcuts. I could tell by how long you lived in Davao….and noticing how quickly you reply to text messages. You were fast!
hi guys,
thats nice Angie! And yup ive read the jumbled words without any problem. I guess your right there.
A little side note though. I know that seeing people walking the street with their eyes in their cell rather than where they are going is pretty normal already but somehow, it is not always good to have it where ever you go.
For me i think its rude to text while in a middle of a conversation. Cellphone should be an enhancement to communicartion, but texting while speaking with other thwarts the purpose, dont you think. Im a Filipino and used to ALL of my friends having cellphones. i bough my mom and sis but never to myself. Yes i dont own one. A rare specie, hehe.
I dont know whats wrong with me really, but i find it *bastos* when people do certain things with their "cp"(cellphone). I once saw this guy ordering in jollibee. he managed to order a burger and fries meal without looking at the cashier, paid for it, and mind you even asked for napkins with out ever looking (Ma, look no "eyes'!) And then there are people who suddenly laugh out loud in a corner, startle you to death,giving you hurtburn and such, just to know that they are reading the newest text jokes on their phone. and the most "nakakainis" of all is when you are in a great conversation withsomeone, then her phone bip, she takes it, become imersed in texting, and you… you are not part of it anymore. in tagalog, nakaka OP (out of place).
Oh well, you cant stop technology, right?
Hi Zois – For a tutorial on using T9, check here and here. Good luck!
Hi Angie – I am familiar with the work that you refer to on words with jumbled spellings. It's quite amazing! The thing is, that it is very easy to read, sometimes you don't even notice that the words are misspelled until somebody points it out!
Hi Macky – I am pretty fast on texting, especially because of using T9. I can almost always understand the abbreviations too. Funny thing is that whenever I have a visitor from the States or elsewhere abroad, I always notice how slow they are on texting! It's because they are not used to it. Ha ha… you were an exception, though!
Hi Jerico – Yeah, I have seen that kind of behavior too where people constantly look at their cp instead of looking at the person that they are conversing with. Bastos kaayo!
It's a good thing that Angie posted that jumbled exercise (I've seen that before many times through emails with friends, yet I never tired of reading it for amazement). I would sometimes do that while texting with family and close friends, removing a letter or two to maximize my number of alloted text message letter count.
The shortest one I could text back to someone asking me for my approval or affirmation is "K". That would mean OK, or Yes. Of course I will only use it to family and close friends; doing to others would only confuse them otherwise.
Other odd text messages (overtly short ones) we usually use (some here in SG):
1) "Hu u?" – asking who is this to anyone calling or texting your phone, but only his or her number is reflected (not in your address book).
2) "Y?" – asking why
3) "C u" – I'll see you soon, or I'll soo you later
4) "Can" – Another yes or affirmation, or I will
5) "Gud AM / PM" – Good morning / night or evening
Hi Jio – Good examples!
Ah, texting! I have this love/hate relationship with texting. Why? Because 1) I'm slow at it and 2) I need my glasses to read the $@&% letters on the phonepad! So, if you see someone at the mall struggling with her phone, say hello, it could very well be me! 😆 But, I have to admit that it has its advantages.
One day, my dad, who uses his cellphone only to make phone calls, was so upset because someone was texting him repeatedly, cursing him. He said "I don't know who this person is but I keep getting this curses on my phone…" When I went to check, the sender had started his messages with "Gud am, sir…" 😕
My brother, who was visiting the States, mentioned that when his plane landed, everyone got their phones out to make calls, except him. He was the only one texting! 😀
Once, I got jolted out of bed at 3am by my cellphone ringing. It was the ringtone I programmed for my sister's calls. She was, at that time, visiting Davao. Thinking it was an emergency, I had to find it in the darkness, went down the stairs to the dining room where I left it the night before. When I picked it up, it was a text message from her saying "Hello, just testing. Love…" 😡 Doesn't she realize that it's only 3am in NYC!!! What's wrong with her??? 👿
I've always reprimanded nephews and nieces about how rude it was to be texting while at dinner and such. But, I think at least I don't have to listen to their conversations, unlike here in the States where you have to suffer thru a busride or listen to someone at a restaurant talking about things you'd rather not know about… 😡 Now, they're talking about making cellphones work in the subways! That will be total pandemonium!
Hi Tina – You crack me up! I remember when you were here and trying to text on that cellphone from your brother! The T9 was turned on and you were having a heck of a time trying to figure out what was going on! Ha ha….
I didn't realize that they were now enabling the subway system for cellular reception!
Bob,
U asked f how's texting here n d US. I'm not sure n CA or other states where there r lots of Filipinos, but here in Northeast US, texting s not popular, some teens probably. Here in the US, it's not too economical to text, might as well use cell or landline, esp. with unlimited call plans. Also, since most household has internet access, chatting or IM is more popular.
Also, imagine people texting while driving here… not a very good scenario, plus the ticket…. I don't think it will be as popular in the Phils.
Hi Lea – Thanks for sharing your experiences! The information you related pretty much confirms what I thought about the popularity of texting in the USA.
Thanks again!
Hi Bob you can tell me if you know. I like to send one cellphone
(mobilphone) in philippines for my sister in my wife with company
DHL if reseive the cellphone (mobilphone) the sister of my wife
need to pay tax or no pay nothing.
regards
Hi Zois – Yes, there will be customs duties on that delivery, no doubt. You can ship the phone in a Balikbayan box and there will be no duties charged, though.
Hi Bob you can tell me for mobilphone alcatel OT E801
possible work in philippines or not, if you know.
regards
Hi Zois – Sorry, I'm not familiar with that phone, so I don't know for sure. If it is a GSM phone it should work fine, though.