“Sure!” Translation: “No problem!” Or, “Of course!”

“Sure-” Translation: “I’ll do it, but I’m not looking forward to it.” Or, “Yeah, right, I know that’s not what you really mean.”

“Sure.” Translation: “Yes, I’ll do it – but I don’t want to.” Or, “Yes, it’s OK, but really I’m angry and upset.”

Admit it. You’re familiar with texting lingo. Almost everyone has received texts that were worded in a way that made it clear the person on the other end was angry, extremely happy or upset.

And most of us at some point have spent a significant amount of time rewording texts to make sure our point gets across, or we have discussed a text with others to interpret what the sender really meant to say.

In an age in which people will opt to text before calling someone else, a whole new language has developed – and it fits into 160 characters.

Texting has become a means of communication our generation depends on to maintain relationships, (or end them), contact each other or simply keep tabs on what friends and family are doing throughout the day.

Updates, special offers and almost any other information can be received through text, and many prefer it to other media.

With this popular form of communication come lingo, abbreviations and expressions unique to text messaging.

The presence or absence of punctuation is enough to change the connotation of a text from one extreme to the other, and we have become experts in deciphering exactly how to interpret each person’s own style of messaging.

Condensing words or numbers, which is less common than older generations might think, is an entirely different story. I would rather type, “What are you up to?” than “Wut r u up 2?” I think most of my educated, intelligent peers would agree, but then again, texting is a whole new world of personal preference and ambiguity.

Our generation has mastered the art of texting, and with its rapid increase in popularity – in only a decade – there is no telling what place phone messaging will have in future years. Texting may lead to the descent of real conversation skills as people continue to replace phone calls or personal interactions with text messaging. However, the same was said for AOL Instant Messenger, or AIM, and similar instant messaging programs, and so far, I haven’t seen any significant side effects from my “IM”-ing habits during my high school years.

So, I will continue to take advantage of all text messaging offers: an outlet for grammatical creativity; a quick, easy way to contact other people; and most importantly, a means to avoiding any personal interaction or conflict whatsoever, while I live peacefully within my technologically advanced world.