Use of SMS-speak by Indians

machadinha · Jan 19th, 2008, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

don't you understand the SMS language? you very well do

I for one don't, and I can't be bothered to make the effort. Besides, it is not a universal language, so it will have its own local idiosyncracies wherever you go. French kids will SMS differently than Kenyan kids. That makes it "ineffective" for an international forum.

I'm always impressed how people on this board will go a long way to accommodate speakers of all backgrounds; but trying to make yourself understood and being patient if you can't is a good first step.

My personal tastes are another thing; but I have trouble taking such communications seriously for anything but very informal private purposes yes, which I guess it was designed for.

shashank.aggarwal · Jan 19th, 2008, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

I for one don't, and I can't be bothered to make the effort. Besides, it is not a universal language, so it will have its own local idiosyncracies wherever you go. French kids will SMS differently than Burundi kids. That makes it "ineffective" for an international forum.

I am not sure why do you feel that I am professing its use on any forum? read my earlier posts carefully... I don't think this thread had something to do with its usage on this forum. Its about the general usage.

machadinha · Jan 19th, 2008, 13:21

Yes, you are right. And I wasn't attacking you. Nor was anyone else, I think. And I've addressed my take on its general usage as well.

Nick-H · Jan 19th, 2008, 13:22

Nationalistic --- I used the wrong word. It has all kinds of horrible connotations which I did not mean at all. Sorry.

What I felt was a bit of the 'old codger Brit doesn't want to enter the modern age' --- and maybe even that (on re-reading your post) was a bit of paranoia on my part. Apologies.

Just forget I said that bit, and back to the subject. My distraction... sorry.

Hey! I'll just delete that bit of my post

Great pics and info from the auto exhibition --- its a great site too

In my turn, I am not rubbishing the people who use SMS in SMS messaging! It has its place, though even I prefer not to use it there.

Nick-H · Jan 19th, 2008, 13:26

Actually, I think all three of us are mostly in agreement on this!

shashank.aggarwal · Jan 19th, 2008, 13:32

yeas we are..thankfully we agree on something..

And about the BHP meetup, it was the most amazing cyber community event I have ever attended..no females..no holds barred..unlimited booze ..and perfect setting for boys to have fun..70 add members attended it, from Kerela, Bangalore, Pune, Dubai and god knows from where...

machadinha · Jan 19th, 2008, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

..no females..no holds barred..

Well, that hardly sounds like fun

Nick-H · Jan 19th, 2008, 13:38

Amazing.

Shame about the lack of females, though!

!

I'll get to one of the physical Chennai meets one day, they happen fairly regularly it seems.

shashank.aggarwal · Jan 19th, 2008, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Shame about the lack of females, though!

!

They were no allowed...warning was specifically issued to all members that not will get his wife or GF along..as things might go out of control..

Rasika · Jan 19th, 2008, 14:20

Oops! I apologise for opening this can of worms!

I didn't intend to diss the users of u-speak. I just wish they knew that it can actually detract from the image they intend to portray - and writing style in emails, particularly to people one doesn't know, does convey some image. It might be shallow, but there you go.

I am particularly concerned with all the obviously brilliant young IIT graduates who write to me and many other professionals in the West and wonder why they aren't taken seriously.

If I get an email in this style it is *very* likely to have come from India. What a shame, from a country which has such a tradition of nuanced communication, with so many subtle differences in addressing to convey social structures...

[many years back i had my own email silliness. i used to write in lower case all the time. now i cringe when browsing my archive. it seems so pretentious!]

machadinha · Jan 19th, 2008, 14:27

Heheh. Thingumajig what's-his-name famous writer syndrome, eh

iwanttogoback · Jan 19th, 2008, 15:01

Quote:

However what I fail to understand why is this prejudice against the same, people use and its perfectly fine, or is it the perfect Britishers attitude that we want to carry all or life..a language is a language is a language...its simply mean a mode of communication and as long as two people clearly understand what they are discussing, that means the language is serving its purpose.

yes, but i don't understand sms language,nor do i plan to, if i'm going to communicate with someone i'll do it properly. my text messages, like these posts are in proper sentences, with punctuation and all. i have been known to reply to manglish (my name for sms talk) messages saying that i have no idea what it means.

Quote:

Heheh. Thingumajig what's-his-name famous writer syndrome, eh

no, it's me.

i've been using lower case since the early 80s, simply because i'm too damn lazy to hit the shift key!

Rasika · Jan 19th, 2008, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwanttogoback

no, it's me.

Oops, my foot is in my mouth again. Hello ee cummings.

Nick-H · Jan 19th, 2008, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasika

many years back i had my own email silliness. i used to write in lower case all the time. now i cringe when browsing my archive. it seems so pretentious!

... did you put little circles, instead of dots, over your "i"s when you were at school?

iwanttogoback · Jan 19th, 2008, 18:53

Quote:

Oops, my foot is in my mouth again. Hello ee cummings.

and hello to you rasika

Jan 19th, 2008, 13:22	#34
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,220	Nationalistic --- I used the wrong word. It has all kinds of horrible connotations which I did not mean at all. Sorry. What I felt was a bit of the 'old codger Brit doesn't want to enter the modern age' --- and maybe even that (on re-reading your post) was a bit of paranoia on my part. Apologies. Just forget I said that bit, and back to the subject. My distraction... sorry. Hey! I'll just delete that bit of my post Great pics and info from the auto exhibition --- its a great site too In my turn, I am not rubbishing the people who use SMS in SMS messaging! It has its place, though even I prefer not to use it there. __________________ . IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)

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Jan 19th, 2008, 13:21	#33
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,172	Yes, you are right. And I wasn't attacking you. Nor was anyone else, I think. And I've addressed my take on its general usage as well.

Jan 19th, 2008, 13:26	#35
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,220	Actually, I think all three of us are mostly in agreement on this!

Jan 19th, 2008, 13:32	#36
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Tagless Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 4,589	yeas we are..thankfully we agree on something.. And about the BHP meetup, it was the most amazing cyber community event I have ever attended..no females..no holds barred..unlimited booze ..and perfect setting for boys to have fun..70 add members attended it, from Kerela, Bangalore, Pune, Dubai and god knows from where...

Jan 19th, 2008, 13:38	#38
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,220	Amazing. Shame about the lack of females, though! ! I'll get to one of the physical Chennai meets one day, they happen fairly regularly it seems.

Jan 19th, 2008, 14:20	#40
Rasika Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK Posts: 67	Oops! I apologise for opening this can of worms! I didn't intend to diss the users of u-speak. I just wish they knew that it can actually detract from the image they intend to portray - and writing style in emails, particularly to people one doesn't know, does convey some image. It might be shallow, but there you go. I am particularly concerned with all the obviously brilliant young IIT graduates who write to me and many other professionals in the West and wonder why they aren't taken seriously. If I get an email in this style it is very likely to have come from India. What a shame, from a country which has such a tradition of nuanced communication, with so many subtle differences in addressing to convey social structures... [many years back i had my own email silliness. i used to write in lower case all the time. now i cringe when browsing my archive. it seems so pretentious!]

Jan 19th, 2008, 14:27	#41
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,172	Heheh. Thingumajig what's-his-name famous writer syndrome, eh

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