What were once long complex sentences are now being replaced by short simple phrases such as, “How R U, GR8, N U, KUL and ttyl.”

Text messaging has allowed individuals to not only create their own language, but to keep in quick contact with others. It has become one of the more popular specialized forms of communication.

Business World Online said in 2001, about 57.3 billion text messages were sent in Western Europe alone.

Students enjoy the freedom of being able to communicate with others without having to stay tied up on the phone or staying logged on the internet.

“It is cool for when you are at work, and you cannot talk directly to someone,” said Brandon Busick, senior management technology major.

Others favor the privacy of it.

Dr. William Kumbier, professor of English, said after reading some stories about the Indian culture he found public displays of affection are actually discouraged, making text messaging a popular alternative.

“It allows people to say some things that they can not say in public,” he said.

One of the disadvantages that comes along with text messaging is the message itself.

Cassidee Evans, freshman marketing major said it is hard to understand the meaning behind someone’s message because one cannot show emotion when texting another person.

“Talking back and forth can be a pain,” Evans said. “You can start a huge fight over a joke.”

The abbreviated sentences do not always help with sending quick messages either.

Andrea Corkle, freshman biology major, said sometimes she has to go back to what the other person said prior to her text message in order to understand what she herself wrote.

The continuous use of abbreviated words raising the question of whether or not avid text message users appreciate the English language.

“The most important thing is to make sure it is appropriate for the text message, but not for formal writing,” Kumbier said.

While many people are catching on to the text messaging phenomenon, others prefer to keep it simple.

In some cases there is a fee involved with adding text messaging to a wireless connection.

“I really do not see the point in text messaging,” said Travis Woods, junior English major. “The message is usually small, and you can use you email account for free to do that,” he said.

Love or hate text messaging, the wireless companies are reaping the benefits of this new interest.

Amanda Matheson, sales associate for Cingular Wireless said the company gets customers adding text messaging to their wireless connections at least once a day.

Cingular, along with other companies, provide packages that include unlimited text messaging.

Randy Holden, sales representative for Sprint also said customers wishing to include text messaging on their phones keep him busy.

“People like it because it does not take away from their minutes,” he said. “We make about $600 a year just on text messaging.”