InstantForum.NET v2.9.0SQLServerCentralhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/notifications@sqlservercentral.comSat, 25 May 2013 14:11:44 GMT20http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxThe danger in using acronymns like "OMG" and "TTYL" in your business correspondence is that your clients and coworkers will stop taking you seriously and laugh at you behind your back. I know I would.Tue, 30 Oct 2012 07:05:59 GMTEric M Russellhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]David Webb-200187 (10/29/2012)[/b][hr]I had a boss once who said that English had no real spelling rules and therefore couldn't really be called a language.[/quote]That depends on the definition you use of "language". By his definition, he's right. By all accepted definitions (variations on the theme of "a system of communication" that don't even specify the written word as a requirement), he's wrong.[quote]He also liked to point out that capitalization could make a difference as in 'polish' versus 'Polish'.[/quote]And in German, a simple mistake of gender can change "ein Alt" into "eine Alte" (the abbreviated form often used for an Altbeer into a colloquial term for a hooker). When I made that mistake whilst ordering another beer in a Duesseldorf pub, my German colleagues were able to string out the amusement for months afterwards.The point is that each language has its exceptions, nuances and lingusitic oddities, but they don't stop it being a language.[quote]He had too much time on his hands...[/quote]Too much time and too little knowledge. A dangerous combination. I assume you kept him away from important systems...Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:27:05 GMTmajorbloodnockhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxI had a boss once who said that English had no real spelling rules and therefore couldn't really be called a language. He pointed out that 'GHOTI' could be the equivalent of 'FISH'.GH as in rougho as in womenti as in optionand it would sound like 'fish'. He also liked to point out that capitalization could make a difference as in 'polish' versus 'Polish'.He had too much time on his hands...Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:06:35 GMTDavid Webb-CDShttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxGreat topic. I think 'it depends'. Subtlety and precision are sacrificed for expediency. Sometimes that makes sense, but compressing the language all the time seems like a bad idea to me. Maybe more people will learn brevity, but more likely it will generate an inordinate amount of of noise.Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:44:57 GMTcdonlan 18448http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxFor some of the years I worked in this business some believed that i should not attend meetings with the suers. I did not speak English nor American but fluent TechnoBabble. Words that had three or four meanings as well as a technology meaning as well as abbreviations and new IT related terms made it almost impossible for many to understand. It was always clear to me, but much of the time it would be well over the heads of others in the room. I had to relearn the language, and at the same time some of the tech terms became mainstream so it was not as hard to convert to English as it could have been. For those communicating in abbreviations and alliterations they will find the same true. They will move a little more towards the traditional language and the traditional language also adapts to the new words and meanings. It is the cycle of American English and really English as well.Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:14:52 GMTMiles Nealehttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Sigerson (10/29/2012)[/b][hr]@majorbloodnock:Sorry, I wasn't clear. (My fault!) I didn't mean to exclude the common PS, NB, EG, et cetera, those are useful and widely understood. But now that I think about it, aren't those usually called 'abbreviations?' Maybe that's the dividing line we're looking for, where an acronym expression from an evolving language finally makes it into the mainstream: when a dictionary lists it as an 'abbreviation' and not an acronym, then it's arrived.[/quote]There's no need to apologise at all. You weren't being unclear; I was being deliberately obtuse and pedantic.The point I was trying to make, though, is that an acronym is no more or less a hurdle to communication than a word or phrase. It's purely a matter of whether or not that acronym, abbreviation, word or phrase is commonly recognised. To me, that's the dividing line, and it's the initiator's responsibility, not the receiver's, to choose their language appropriately.Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:21:34 GMTmajorbloodnockhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx@majorbloodnock:Sorry, I wasn't clear. (My fault!) I didn't mean to exclude the common PS, NB, EG, et cetera, those are useful and widely understood. But now that I think about it, aren't those usually called 'abbreviations?' Maybe that's the dividing line we're looking for, where an acronym expression from an evolving language finally makes it into the mainstream: when a dictionary lists it as an 'abbreviation' and not an acronym, then it's arrived.Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:07:45 GMTSigersonhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxSome these commonly used acronyms (like FUBAR) are vulgar. There is a potential for a text-to-speech or language translation software to sound out the root words literally, which is something you definately would not want when sending emails to clients or coworkers.Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:06:22 GMTEric M Russellhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxOnce I saw an infographic that suggested there are more english speakers in China than the rest combined.make of that, what you will :)Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:00:55 GMTdallas-1069889http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Sigerson (10/29/2012)[/b][hr].....Lots of great comments. It looks like acronyms have some defenders, but only 10-15% of us.[/quote]Not sure. I wouldn't defend an acronym like AFAIK in common parlance because it's not widely understood enough. However, I would defend the use of P.S., N.B. and e.g. (even though many won't know what they actually stand for) because their meaning is readily understood. If it aids communication, I'm for it, but if it gets in the way then I'm against it.Mon, 29 Oct 2012 07:39:08 GMTmajorbloodnockhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Paul G-468777 (11/20/2007)[/b][hr] There is a whole group of people coming behind who believe things like "words should only mean what the speaker intended them to mean" (yes, I have had that debate with an early20s developer) ... Me deciding what words should mean to everyone is arrogant. Words that can not be understood commonly are deceptive and a waste.[/quote]In electronics signals communication, the first "law" they have to beat into the heads of young engineers is this: "The meaning of any message is determined by the receiver."That's why I email a lot, and in plain, grammatical English (still fairly common here in the US). Not because I'm older, but because it's MY responsibility to make sure I'm understood.Lots of great comments. It looks like acronyms have some defenders, but only 10-15% of us.Mon, 29 Oct 2012 06:52:45 GMTSigersonhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxI'd like to echo Sushila's sentiments from earlier- the sad fact is that a generation of people have grown up in front of a display and keyboard rather than a book and a reading light. And because parents are working too hard to sustain a shrinking standard of living, or are too distracted to parent in the discipline of proper education, the time taken to compose and articulate cogent thought has decomposed into a gathering of clucking hens tapping on keys.I'm proud to say that my girls, while fully immersed in this Smartphone Generation, take the time to compose a text message in the same manner as their parents composed love letters many years ago- with careful attention to the words they use and spell out.Mon, 29 Oct 2012 06:41:53 GMTGWAkhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[size="4"][b]I Need to post a retraction[/b][/size]On further research and reading of Fowlers' Common English usage circa 1926 - reprinted 1954 makes the clear distinction on the correct and acceptable usage of '-ize' and '-ise'. Most english printers follow the French in changing ize to ise. Those words with a latin or greek root where izien (Greek) and izare (Latin) are common and as the pronunciation is also with a 'z'ed' there is no reason why , in English, the special French spelling should be followed. There are however, those [b]verbs [/b] that do not get their ise even remotely from the greek izo and must be spelt with an ise.LikeAdvertise, Devise,Surprise,appraise, chastise, circumcise,comprise,compromise,dispise,disguise,devise,enterprise,exercise,improvise,supervise,surmise.In the case of colour Keep the -u-Colour makes colourable, colourist BUT use Coloration decolor[b]ize[/b] :DHere endth the lesson ;)CodeOn :PWed, 21 Nov 2007 16:05:32 GMTMalcolm Daughtreehttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Steve Jones - Editor (11/21/2007)[/b][hr]English is a mess, and probably the fault of my fellow Americans, so I'll apologize for the alterations, inconsistency, and just general silliness of our alterations to the "Queen's English". I'm amazed my kids can ever learn to spell.Now, if we can just accept the language used in Denver by 30-50 year olds as the global standard, we'll be fine :)[/quote]English [b]is [/b]a mess - or you can even say "the English are a mess" :P - but the messiness has been an intrinsic part of the language long before the "fellow Americans" took a crack at linguistic vandalism - the world is rife with examples - but & put; root & foot; plough & though; to & so....where's the logic, where's the pattern?! :w00t:For all my passion for this language I [b]do [/b]see how difficult it would be to master leave alone just get the basics right - for my money I'd go with Spanish - I love the WYSIWYG (thrown in to align with this editorial -ha) factor of Spanish that you cannot get with most other languages!Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:04:42 GMTsushilahttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxEnglish is a mess, and probably the fault of my fellow Americans, so I'll apologize for the alterations, inconsistency, and just general silliness of our alterations to the "Queen's English". I'm amazed my kids can ever learn to spell.Now, if we can just accept the language used in Denver by 30-50 year olds as the global standard, we'll be fine :)Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:40:28 GMTSteve Jones - SSC Editorhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Malcolm Daughtree (11/20/2007)[/b][hr]Clip from EditorialWhether (and nothing to do with storms) it's by pictures, words or smoke signals, the point is that languages are continually evolving and so is their usage. [/quote]Agreed-ishSome languages evolve better than others. English only requires that a word becomes common currency before it becomes legitimate, and therefore is included in dictionaries (I'll admit I'm thinking of the Oxford English Dictionary in particular). French requires that a new word is ratified by L'Academie Francaise before it is given any official credence. As a result, English evolves far quicker than French. Admittedly, English is not "owned" by the English any more - it truly is a global language, and American, Australian, Canadian and European injections, to name but a few, are now just as valid as those from Britain. Whilst many of the new additions can grate on traditional sensibilities, I believe English's fitness for purpose as a communcation tool has increased exponentially because of it.I'm rambling on now, so I'll shut up.Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:24:45 GMTmajorbloodnockhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxDim myMessageAnd heaven forbid that I use "Bonza" "bewdy" or Aussie in a sentence. or etc because I can't spell the other or BTW 'cos I have to compress it into isValidSMS(myMessage,char(160)) = true. See where it all leads :DCuL8rOn Co don :PPS Language is such fun !Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:48:46 GMTMalcolm Daughtreehttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxnow THAT's something I can understand (wi$ea$$ that is....):hehe:Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:43:59 GMTMatt Miller (#4)http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx:ermm: sorry about that last post everyone. I assumed there would be some word wrapping happening there. I was just being a wise-a** anyway. Maybe it can be deleted??And "no", I didn't preview my post. You put code into production without testing and look what happens!Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:46:09 GMTJames Stoverhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Malcolm Daughtree (11/20/2007)[/b][hr]Clip from Editorial"Whether we standardize on English .." Ummm there is no 'z' in standardise and there is a 'u' in 'Color'. [/quote]Sorry to be contrary, but both usages are valid in both examples above. I understand the Queen's English was here first, but us non-spellers on the other side of the pond have established several variants of certain words, to include "standardize" and "color" (even though the Queen would prefer that we use "standardise" and "colour").Your point as to how fluid the language is is well illustrated however :)Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:12:04 GMTMatt Miller (#4)http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxClip from Editorial"Whether we standardize on English .." Ummm there is no 'z' in standardise and there is a 'u' in 'Color'. And there are several usages of there,(mostly misused) There are... Their clothes... There are programmers in there hopefully wearing their clothes over there :D And you wonder where TTYL comes from ?? And people are complaining about spell Checkers.... Ok I'll get off the soap box now. Whether (and nothing to do with storms) it's by pictures, words or smoke signals, the point is that languages are continually evolving and so is its' usage. CodeOn :PTue, 20 Nov 2007 15:56:51 GMTMalcolm Daughtreehttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxLet me set down my cane so I can use both hands to bang out this message...To quote myself "Never confuse motion with progress" which in the world communication transmogrifies into "Never confuse talking with communication."It seems to me many if not most project failures can be traced to communication faults. Basic manners and courtesy would seem to stress that it behooves the one wishing to convey a message or receive information to be aquainted with the idioms, whatever they are, of the other party(ies). I take great pride in choosing exactly the right words in proper english to illustrate my points, convey information, entertain or entreat. However, if I ask a "tweener" for information I should be fully ready to receive and accept a string of hideously permuted acronyms and l33t-speak. That does not make them wrong.Similarly, if I am in France and am looking for information I should not be offended if the person responds in french or fails to understand my question uttered in english. I found myself embarassed by a co-worker while we were doing a co-oridnated release in Lyon who exclaimed when he though we were alone "If these people are going to by US software why can't they learn to speak english?!" Rediculous.In the end, personally, I miss the english language as it seems to fade from public exchange. There is a whole group of people coming behind who believe things like "words should only mean what the speaker intended them to mean" (yes, I have had that debate with an early20s developer). All of these acronyms can be translated but as any cruise through acronymfinder.com will show you they can mean similar things. Words without fixed meanings are pointless. Me deciding what words should mean to everyone is arrogant. Words that can not be understood commonly are deceptive and a waste.I am sure we will sruvive the coming of the Jabberwock. We survived and lead the migration from vacuum tubes to micro-circuits. It seems that one of the challenges for the generation that follows is linguisitic obfuscation. I would love it if language would stop evolving but [i]volo quisnam lingua mortuus[/i]Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:16:45 GMTPaul G-468777http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxFar out article dude. It was really dope!LaterSlang comes in many forms.Tue, 20 Nov 2007 10:50:03 GMTBob Hoffman-209065http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Anders Pedersen (11/20/2007)[/b][hr]I've been playing online roleplaying games (MMORPGs) sinve Everquest came out in March of 1999. ...[/quote]Gamers are everywhere! One of my first computer jobs was with a play-by-mail game company (Flying Buffalo) in the early 80's (their online presence was on The Source :hehe: ). It took me a while to get OMW in City of Heroes as On My Way, when someone is running across a map to join you on a quest. I always thought of Oh, My Word!:DTue, 20 Nov 2007 09:20:59 GMTWayne Westhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxFrom a reader/listener (attached): rename as .wavSums it up nicely. Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:55:56 GMTSteve Jones - SSC Editorhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]sushila (11/20/2007)[/b][hr][quote][b]majorbloodnock (11/20/2007)[/b][hr][quote][b]Steve Jones - Editor (11/20/2007)[/b][hr]And I think that can be summed up simply as, "choose your language to suit your audience" - a useful and sensible skill to employ.[/quote]Except when you have a "mixed bag" and you don't know whether to be couth and uncool or uncouth and cool..:w00t:[/quote]Opting for eloquent smut works for me :Whistling:.Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:42:59 GMTmajorbloodnockhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]majorbloodnock (11/20/2007)[/b][hr][quote][b]Steve Jones - Editor (11/20/2007)[/b][hr]And I think that can be summed up simply as, "choose your language to suit your audience" - a useful and sensible skill to employ.[/quote]Except when you have a "mixed bag" and you don't know whether to be couth and uncool or uncouth and cool..:w00t:Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:30:09 GMTsushilahttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Steve Jones - Editor (11/20/2007)[/b][hr]Guess the spell checker didn't help with my acronyms. I had to look a few up to write the editorial and I mis-spelled (Does that make sense?) them.[/quote]...and because of it your kudos has risen, not fallen.[quote]Acronyms make sense and are useful in places. Especially non-work environments, but I'm not sure that we should pile on acronyms when we're discussing something with co-workers.Which is something I hear teenagers doing.[/quote]And I think that can be summed up simply as, "choose your language to suit your audience" - a useful and sensible skill to employ.Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:03:19 GMTmajorbloodnockhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Anders Pedersen (11/20/2007)[/b][hr]I've been playing online roleplaying games (MMORPGs) sinve Everquest came out in March of 1999. Lots of people there use acronyms all the time, or shorthand. Sometimes you have to, i.e. when you have a bad fight on your hand ;) But even there I strive to write proper English as everyone can understand it (although capitilization becomes difficult at times....).Guess I will never be cool either! And I'm ok with that!Some of those though, like FUBAR, has been around a lot longer than computers. At least my dad said it was commonly used around the planes he flew even back in the 50s ;)[/quote]Good to see another gamer here :) I definitely agree that there are times where you have to use the acronyms. But there definitely is a time where they shouldn't be used. It makes me cringe to see kids these days thinking that using lol, rofl, and other acronyms is fine in writing. What ever happened to proper grammar and spelling out words? Or are they now teaching acronyms as the way to go? :(Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:51:08 GMTSarah Dutkiewiczhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxGuess the spell checker didn't help with my acronyms. I had to look a few up to write the editorial and I mis-spelled (Does that make sense?) them.Acronyms make sense and are useful in places. Especially non-work environments, but I'm not sure that we should pile on acronyms when we're discussing something with co-workers.Which is something I hear teenagers doing.Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:45:17 GMTSteve Jones - SSC Editorhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxI've been playing online roleplaying games (MMORPGs) sinve Everquest came out in March of 1999. Lots of people there use acronyms all the time, or shorthand. Sometimes you have to, i.e. when you have a bad fight on your hand ;) But even there I strive to write proper English as everyone can understand it (although capitilization becomes difficult at times....).Guess I will never be cool either! And I'm ok with that!Some of those though, like FUBAR, has been around a lot longer than computers. At least my dad said it was commonly used around the planes he flew even back in the 50s ;)Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:24:44 GMTAnders Pedersenhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspx[quote][b]majorbloodnock (11/20/2007)[/b][hr]How about [url=http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?string=exact&acronym=TTYL]this one[/url]?P.S. Glossary specific to the editorial, as requested. Apologies for including most of the obvious ones.OMG - Oh My GodDB - Suspect I might not need to do that one ;)[/quote]Thank you for that very comprehensive list - I will now consider myself in the ranks of the informed..:)Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:05:19 GMTsushilahttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxWe always used bitbucket with a slightly different meaning. It was usually in reference to some important piece of data, now lost and not retrievable, having gone to 'the great bitbucket in the sky'. However, I AM old enough to know what LUN 0 is, so I've learned something.Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:59:41 GMTG Bryant McClellanhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxCheck www.acronymfinder.com Under certain circumstances abbreviations and jargon are acceptable (where everyone in the audience is familiar with them) but they are used far too often with mixed groups, and such use can be rude."If you can't explain it in plain English, then you don't understand it yourself"Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:54:44 GMTjay-hhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxWorking for a government contractor I have come to believe that the abbreviations, acronyms, jargon is a mechanism for some to hide what they do. Least you the outsider understand and come to the conclusion that they do as little as possible, taking as long as possible. Saying this another way is to say they are highly paid and contribute little or nothing to our knowledge or society.Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:49:25 GMTbitbucket-25253http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxFor of few of the lesser known acronyms...FUBAR Fouled Up Beyond All Repair (substitute more colorful term for Fouled up as required)AFAIK (I think this is what Steve intended) As Far As I KnowROFLMAO Rolling On Floor Laughing My A$$ OffTTYL Talk To You LaterI agree with the idea that email should avoid jargon, TLAs and anything else that makes it less readable subject, in part, to the intended audience. If the audience is known to understand, it is less of an issue. Still how may cases of carpal tunnel syndrome will by causes by typing 'You' instead of 'U'. To me, especially in email or a forum where you have virtually unlimited space, that is simply lazy.What is even worse, in my opinion, is the generally poor quality of spell checkers. That or they are not enabled. When one is translating from one's native language to a second or third language, that is one thing. Mistakes or errors in usage are expected. But if you profess a language to be your native one, try to use it correctly. And if you need help, there are a bazillion spelling and grammar checkers available to help you.I once worked with an IBM Sales Engineer who was doing a presentation on what was then a new technology, SNA. In the beginning of his presentation he showed a Tower of Babel covered with numerous acronyms from IBM. He noted the subject of the presentation, looked at his own display, then commented dryly that 'at IBM we have to many TLAs'.Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:35:43 GMTG Bryant McClellanhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxHow about [url=http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?string=exact&acronym=TTYL]this one[/url]?P.S. Glossary specific to the editorial, as requested. Apologies for including most of the obvious ones.OMG - Oh My GodDB - Suspect I might not need to do that one ;)FUBAR - F'd Up Beyond All RecognitionHDD - Hard Disc DriveRAID - Redundant Array of Inexpensive (or Independent) DiscsOTF - On The FlyAKAIK - Should read AFAIK - As Far As I KnowCRM - Customer Relationship ManagementROFLMAO - Rolling On the Floor, Laughing My Ar** (or A**, if you're American) OffAWKFY - Should read AWHFY - Are We Having Fun YetTTYL - Talk To You LaterIT - Dunno. Anyone any ideas?Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:25:32 GMTmajorbloodnockhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxOh - this is a topic after my own heart..it has been a pet peeve for many, many years - communication skills or the lack thereof - I blame it all on the fact that most people don't like to read as much any more (thanks to the Internet, TV etc.) - so when they do take the time to communicate in writing, their spellings are phonetic interpretations - is their anyone hear hoo disagrees ?! How much easier it is then to communicate in letters and not words - no room for spelling errors - no time-consuming typing - and "if you don't get it, you don't get it!"I would like a glossary for the uninitiated next time but for now am happy to say that I got an expansion for almost all acronymns used in this editorial from the (young) technical writer in our office who was crushed & devastated by the ones she did not know - "oh no" she cried - "...and here I was thinking I was so hip!" Well - it was a crushing blow to me too - the realization that I will never be hip or cool or "with it"..doomed to be an anachonistic anomaly for as long as I live! However, I have a parting shot for all those who do communicate in this pesky fashion...SUE PEBKAC!!! :hehe:Pjones: I enjoyed the JIPOD story! :Dps:Actually, I think I may still want that glossary...someone...anyone ?!?!Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:00:36 GMTsushilahttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxGood topic Steve!I'm going to jump out on a limb here and disagree a bit. I see this as an evolution of language and one (more) of several challenges to communication. I think it's interesting to observe the inventiveness of people using a highly serial input device (phone keypad) to communicate. As technical folk, we've made jokes for years about TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms) - now it's gone mainstream. How cool.:{> AndyTue, 20 Nov 2007 05:19:47 GMTAndy Leonardhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic423885-263-1.aspxHi,Can someone PLEASE translate; I don't understand the first couple of sentences! :DI agree that the abbreviations are to me a foreign language and one I've no intention of learning, I'm not that old either. I seem to spend lots of time correcting my children’s grammar which is a challenge living in Lancashire where the local dialect abandoned grammatically correct English centuries ago.This phone text language doesn't help at all not that I use it.Tue, 20 Nov 2007 04:30:31 GMTFerks