Abbreviation and Acronym Use In Posts

    A note to all respondents for all subjects, please don’t assume that all readers know the abbreviations and anagrams - take another 5 seconds and use the full wording
   

    -@TaurusTiger

OK

    A note to all respondents for all subjects, please don’t assume that all readers know the abbreviations and anagrams - take another 5 seconds and use the full wording
   

    -@TaurusTiger

CDG = airport Charles De Gaul Paris France

SGN = airport Tan Son Nhat Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

took me all of 20 seconds to write that though, not 5 seconds!

    A note to all respondents for all subjects, please don’t assume that all readers know the abbreviations and anagrams - take another 5 seconds and use the full wording        -@TaurusTiger

I'm assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that when you said "...all readers..." that you were referencing yourself. May I ask which member's post(s) containing "...abbreviations and anagrams (sic)..." prompted your request ?

Acronyms have become part of the vernacular, and may of course continue to be used in the forum. Should the need arise, members are encouraged to ask for clarification from the OP where a simple Google search did not suffice.

Should the need arise, members are encouraged to ask for clarification from the OP where a simple Google search did not suffice.
   

    -@Aidan in HCMC

WTF is OP???

😉

     Should the need arise, members are encouraged to ask for clarification from the OP where a simple Google search did not suffice.        -@Aidan in HCMC

WTF is OP???😉        -@OceanBeach92107

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

IDK

Oh, wait a minute! Here it is.

         Should the need arise, members are encouraged to ask for clarification from the OP where a simple Google search did not suffice.        -@Aidan in HCMC
WTF is OP???😉        -@OceanBeach92107

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
IDK

Oh, wait a minute! Here it is.

-@Aidan in HCMC

IMNSHO, UR ✔️

IMNSHO, UR ✔️    -@OceanBeach92107

gr8!

TYVM

@goodolboy

thanks…🙂

@Aidan in HCMC

yes, I meant acronyms.

Should we downgrade the English language just because it’s part of the ’current vernacular’?

English speakers should be encouraging correct and full English especially in a foreign culture where proper English is difficult enough without adding to confusion with lazy texting.

Are we really in such a hurry to respond or ask questions, that we can’t use the King’s English?

It’s bad enough that we all make typo’s -  again hitting send without reading what we’ve written, and I’m guilty of that on occasion.

I make a point of not using abbreviations or acronyms in my texts or emails. As an English teacher I try to always set an example.

My grammar isn’t perfect, but I teach pronunciation rather than grammar except to correct tenses in conversations. I see many examples of poor grammar, which I attribute to English as a second language. If English is your first language,  please consider that for many readers it might not be, and take the time to help them… 🙂

@TaurusTiger

oops, typo’s is an abbreviation.  I meant typographical errors -  maybe oops is an abbreviation also?

maybe oops is an abbreviation also?
   
    -@TaurusTiger

"OFFS!" ~ GoodOlBoy

😉

Hello everyone,

Please note that this new thread has been created from your posts on the Vietnam forum for better comprehension.

All the best

Bhavna

    Hello everyone,
Please note that this new thread has been created from your posts on the Vietnam forum for better comprehension.

All the best
Bhavna
   

    -@Bhavna

TYVM! 🙏

OMG!

FYI, look at language morphology.

OK?

@Fred

Yes of course - how long before we don’t need dictionaries or the ability to speak?

What next? the elimination of cursive writing?

Most people’s printing is unreadable.

New generation can’t tell the time on an analogue watch, or understand how to search a phone book or read a paper map, let alone understand a topographical map?

So many skills disappearing. General knowledge will soon be a thing or the past, as will conversation without a mobile in their hand. Conversations on the bus have all but disappeared… how on earth did we manage…?

    @FredYes of course - how long before we don’t need dictionaries or the ability to speak?What next? the elimination of cursive writing?Most people’s printing is unreadable.New generation can’t tell the time on an analogue watch, or understand how to search a phone book or read a paper map, let alone understand a topographical map?So many skills disappearing. General knowledge will soon be a thing or the past, as will conversation without a mobile in their hand. Conversations on the bus have all but disappeared… how on earth did we manage…?        -@TaurusTiger

Tech without brain use. Orwell would have loved it.

Governments and advertisers make great use of that stuff to make you believe anything they tell you.

The trick is to ignore everything that doesn't interest you.

As an example, YouTube con you into buying their premium by dumping ads all over their platform.

Fools pay, the rest either ignore the ads or don't bother with it.

yes, I meant acronyms.

Yes, I know you did. Hence the title of this newly created thread not stating "...and Anagram...".

Should we downgrade the English language just because it’s part of the ’current vernacular’?

You're making an a priori argument/assumption that the use of casual everyday language in these threads is some sort of "downgrade". How so? An argument could easily be made that a language is upgraded  by allowing its naturally organic structure to evolved, not by it being trellised.

English speakers should be encouraging correct and full English...

I assume this is with regard to the use of abbreviations as mentioned in your post, "A note to all respondents for all subjects...". Surely you're not suggesting that instead of "wi-fi" we use wireless standard IEEE 802.11, for "e.g." we use exempli gratia, or for "etc" we use et cetera, etc etc. Common acronyms would of course include "FBI", "WHO", "UN", "EU" and on and on.

I had asked you which member's post(s) had prompted your request that members refrain from using abbreviations and anagrams, but received no reply. Am I correct in assuming that it was the post from member goodolboy  where he said, "Just arrived back this morning CDG to SGN & entered on the 45 days visa exempt", (Link) as the reason for your post? I wrote in reply, "Should the need arise, members are encouraged to ask for clarification from the OP where a simple Google search did not suffice." Here are the Google search results for "CDG to SGN" (Link).

...especially in a foreign culture where proper English is difficult enough...

But, this forum is not "a foreign culture". It is the expat.com/Vietnam/English forum, an English language forum dedicated to helping expats in Vietnam. Again, members are always encouraged to ask for clarification of any post they have difficulty understanding. The forum is definitely not an ESL training site, and participants are expected to be literate in English. Fluency is not a prerequisite.

without adding to confusion with lazy texting.

Describing the use of abbreviations and acronyms as "lazy texting" is derogatory and a sleight against, what I would venture to be, the majority of internet users.

Are we really in such a hurry to respond or ask questions, that we can’t use the King’s English?

It's not about speed, it is most often simply a way to reduce the number of keystrokes.

It’s bad enough that we all make typo’s -  again hitting send without reading what we’ve written, and I’m guilty of that on occasion.

Ditto, of course.

I make a point of not using abbreviations or acronyms in my texts or emails. As an English teacher I try to always set an example. My grammar isn’t perfect, but I teach pronunciation rather than grammar except to correct tenses in conversations. I see many examples of poor grammar, which I attribute to English as a second language.

That is both commendable, and of course your own choice.

If English is your first language,  please consider that for many readers it might not be, and take the time to help them… 🙂    -@TaurusTiger

At the risk of repeating myself, it is my sincere hope that should any member be confused by or not fully understand another member's post that they reach out to the forum for clarification. Lots of friendly folk at expat.com are ready to help. Don't be shy.

Abbreviations and acronyms will be encountered almost daily in the real world. Non-native English speaking members being exposed to these on expat.com will hopefully expand the member's understanding of the modern English language (whether this is an upgrade or a downgrade is of course subjective).

@Aidan in HCMC

yes of course you make valid  points. Many issues are subjective, but surely improving one’s knowledge of English is invaluable.

I would never suggest trying to remember the numerical sequence for WiFi, but wireless fidelity adds to vocabulary. Agreed, this is not an English class forum, but expats (oops another acronym) often do not have English as their first language, judging by the spelling and grammar I see here.

We can all benefit from correct usage whenever possible. Playing Devil’s advocate does encourage discourse and alternative viewpoints, and possibly even advances learning?

    A note to all respondents for all subjects, please don’t assume that all readers know the abbreviations and anagrams - take another 5 seconds and use the full wording        -@TaurusTiger

I suppose it's down to how many peeps in HCMC use them.

RSVP cos IDK

Or, more seriously, how many people in HCMC don't use HCMC?

If not many, expats need to learn to use HCMC.

Or, more seriously, how many people in HCMC don't use HCMC?
If not many, expats need to learn to use HCMC.
   

    -@Fred

Many, many locals simply write HCM

    Or, more seriously, how many people in HCMC don't use HCMC?If not many, expats need to learn to use HCMC.        -@Fred

Many, many locals simply write HCM
   

    -@OceanBeach92107

OMG

    Many, many locals simply write HCM
        -@OceanBeach92107

Absolutely, while many others will, when writing/texting, simply use SN (and HN for Hanoi). They all understand what is meant.

I notice too that in conversation locals will oscillate between using Saigon and Hồ Chí Minh, sometimes even in the same sentence without giving it a second thought.

@Fred  Locals wouldn't usually/normally ever use "HCMC", as that second "C" stands for "City".

In formal text they use "T.P. HCM" (Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh).

Thành phố translates as City.

Me? I tend to use the name Saigon. It's the name I hear used in traditional folk songs, and it is the name used throughout history in VN poetry.

I'm kind of surprised that the government hasn't asked the IATA to change the airport code from SGN to HCM

@Aidan in HCM

i use Sai Gon and Ha Noi -

typically mainly northerners prefer Ho Chi Minh City, whilst southerners use Sai Gon…

a bit of wartime references there,  but dying out as memories of the American  War fade…?