Texting words like LOL and OMG may not be as cool as it once was.

A US study has found people using abbreviations or slang in texts sound 'stupid' to others.

Massey University linguistics expert Dr Arianna Berardi-Wiltshire says slang seems to have become less common.

She says changing tech may play a part - with phones now having full keyboards and predictive spelling.

"Young people are much more relationally aware than people were in the past - they know, quite often, when it's appropriate to use them."

LISTEN ABOVE

Texting words like LOL and OMG may not be as cool as it once was.
A US study has found people using abbreviations or slang in texts sound 'stupid' to others.
Massey University linguistics expert Dr Arianna Berardi-Wiltshire says slang seems to have become less common.
She says changing tech may play a part - with phones now having full keyboards and predictive spelling.
"Young people are much more relationally aware than people were in the past - they know, quite often, when it's appropriate to use them."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Dr Arianna Berardi-Wiltshire: Massey University linguistics expert on text slang falling out of fashion with younger users

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0d578b73-a4e7-44d5-a764-b2bf00641021/transcript