Sign of the Times: A Textspeak Translator
Posted: Thursday 2 Jul 2009, under category Ideas
Textspeak, the language of text-messenging used primarily by teens, is often undecipherable to anyone under the age of 21. Sure, we all know by now LOL or OMG, but how many of us know WDALYIC? (Answer: Who died and left you in charge?). DTXTR is glossary for parents or anyone else who wants to understand teen texting, you just enter the the text and it provides the translation. The glossary is a database that anyone can update, and looking through it I wonder how many of these are actually used, though I was gratified to see among the entries the Miltonic "FF&PN" for "Fresh Fields and Pastures New", who says technology is destroying literary culture (though the actual line is "Fresh woods and pastures new")? I was, however, a bit disappointed to see that the glossary tends to shy away from vulgarities, such an important part of textspeak, and surely among the thing that non-texters and parents would be most curious to know. WTF?, I say.
Tip: Cool Business Ideas
