Text messaging, the teenagers language in University exams

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Text messaging language has become a second language for many teenagers across India. But when it came to the examination papers, teachers were in a fix. Students were using one-letter substitutions for many words in their answer scripts. For example, for is replaced by 4, great by gr8 etc.One student wrote a passage like this describing his summer holidays.

My summer hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2go2 NY 2C my br, his GF & thr 3:-kids.ILNY,it's gr8 plc.

The actual text should be like this.

My summer holidays were a complete waste of time.Before we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girl friend and their three screaming kids.I love New York .It's great place.


Teachers are divided on the use of short language in answer scripts. Although, most of them oppose the use of such language some evaluators do not mind it.

Prof Chandramouli, Principal of a prestigious college in Bangalore says.

Students are influenced by their habit of text messaging. By and large they are not bothered about the difference between the use of formal English or the short language. Their objective is to communicate what they have to do in short duration.

While another instructor said.

Examiners may not understand the language because most of them belong to a generation unfamiliar with such language. Moreover it is an informal mode of communication. If students follow it they will not learn the language at all. If you just write ‘n’ instead of 'and' it can’t be an alternative language for English.