You know emails are fast. Why not make them even faster? Learn the cyber language of the chat room. It's Gr8 (great). It's not geekspeak<注1> we're talking about, but Netspeak.<注2> And when you getsintostext messaging on your mobile, knowing a bit of Netspeak will certainly save time.

　　Want to join in a conversation in a chat room? A simple PMFJI before typing is a polite way of butting in.<注3> (PMFJI=Pardon Me For Jumping In)

　　Want some info<注4> on who you are talking to? A/S/L will give you some idea of your cyber mate.(A/S/L=Age/Sex/Location)

　　If you're the reasonably humble type, enter FWIW before you inflict<注5> your views on others. (FWIW =For What It's Worth)

　　The New "In-Crowd"

　　Social psychologists say it is natural for the new generation to use a new language for a new technology. Young people want to write as fast as possible and get their ideas across as quickly as they can. Plus, using the new lingo (language) shows how cool you are! You are up with the play<注6> concerning the latest trends. And at least for this year, until text messaging spreads, to be using the 'language' of your generation gives you a certain hip<注7> exclusivity.

　　"What Are U Saying?"

　　With the rapid-entry lingo of text messaging, punctuation and capital letters are biting the dust.<注8> It just takes too much time to type in that comma. bsides which u can still undrstd wht im saying, cant u?

　　"Code breaking"

　　The downside of this new cyber language is that your emails, chat room chats and your text messages can look like a code for spies from World WarⅡ. But, no problem. Click onto www.chatdictionary.com for a 1400 entry-long list of 'netcronyms'<注9> and you'll be :). (:) =smiling =:))

　　Here are a few basic messaging terms to start you off.

　　CUL8R　　See you later (at the end)

　　FWIW　　 For what it's worth

　　GTG　　　Got to go (at the end)

　　GMTA　　 Great minds think alike

　　Gr8　　　Great

　　IMHO　　 In my humble opinion

　　JKLYK　　Just to let you know

　　L8　　　 Late

　　L8R　　　Later

　　LOL　　　Laugh out loud or lots of laughter

　　Msg　　　Message

　　OIC　　　Oh I see

　　PLS　　　Please

　　PMFJI　　Pardon me for jumping in

　　RUOK　　 Are you OK?

　　THX　　　Thanks

　　TTYL　　 Talk to you later

　　:)　　　 Happy, smiling

　　;)　　　 Wink

　　: -o 　　Surprised

　　:( 　　　Sad