SMS lingo creeps into schools and businesses

Islamabad: "More and more job seekers have adopted a kind of shorthand borrowed from the world of SMS that they see as acceptable. For instance, we get covering letters that use phraseology such as '4 U' instead of 'for you'," said Aneesa Khan, who works with the human resource department of a media company.

She believes "this trend is probably universal among young people, but it is rather worrying in the context of Pakistan as English language skills are often already poor."

Teachers have similar complaints. "We get essays which use this shorthand and the kids are surprised when we say it is not acceptable," teacher Mahbano Sultan said.

The trend though is unlikely to change any time soon as more and more Pakistanis possess mobile phones and advertising offering new services and packages is seen everywhere.

Among teenagers, mobile phones seem to be virtually an addiction, and some, such as Amer Ameer, admit it. "I simply feel miserable if I cannot use my phone. Life in the classroom is [tough] because at our college we're not allowed to bring in phones," he said.

Like others his age he believes the language of SMS should simply be accepted. "Languages after all change over time, don't they?" he says.

But until this change takes place, conventional language is expected in formal settings. This includes business correspondence and school work.

There are also implications for employers using this shorthand. "We now have companies, especially the multinationals whose employees must survive in the corporate world, where special language skill classes are being set up to ensure personnel know what is appropriate," Khan said.

She cited examples of people being offended when addressed in the laid-back slang and pointed out that with more and more companies using texting to communicate about new products or services, it is important the right tone be used.

The bilingualism being the norm in Pakistan, where Urdu and Engish often co-exist, usually with a third language, adds to the challenges. Phrases from Urdu have crept into the SMS norm.

Purists argue this is rapidly contributing to a decline in the ability to write properly. But there are some who ask how far we are from communication solely through the Internet or mobile phones.

"I use texting to communicate with my husband more and more often, sometimes even when we're both home, just a room away from each other," Sabene Jawad said.

She laughs as she says: "The kind of romantic letters in beautiful Urdu script that my grandparents wrote to each other are something our children will never inherit."