The notion that text-messaging is destroying the writing skills of American students gets two distinct reactions from linguists.

Jacquie Ream's response: OMG (Oh My God).

"We have a whole generation being raised without communications skills," says Ream, a teacher and author of the book K.I.S.S. Keep It Short and Simple.

That kind of talk leaves Derek Denis LOL (Laughing Out Loud).

"We didn't find any negative impact on writing," says Denis, a University of Toronto researcher who studied the writing habits of text-messaging teens.

The explosion of text-messaging -- where cell phone users type and send short "real-time" messages to other phones or computers -- has kicked off a growing debate about what the practice will mean to writing and communication.

Confined to limited space and small numeric keypads, text-messengers have created a new lingo that is intriguing researchers.

On the one side is the Seattle-based Ream, who argues that text-messaging and the Internet are destroying the way youngsters read, think, write and spell. Text-messaging in particular, she argues, reduces written communication to shorthand and cliches.

To support that claim, she points to a recent National Center for Education Statistics study that suggested only one of four high school seniors is a proficient writer.

"Kids are typing shorthand jargon that isn't even a complete thought," she says.

On the other side is Denis. He and fellow Toronto linguist Sali Tagliamonte examined the instant messages and spoken communication of 72 people ages 15-20 and found that messaging represented "an expansive new linguistic renaissance."

Denis and Tagliamonte found teens had a surprisingly lucid command of language and moved easily from the spoken word to text-messaging to formal written papers.

"I wasn't really surprised by the findings," Denis says. "I text-message, and I know that I also know how to speak and write."

Cleveland Heights High School senior Phil Torres agrees.

"I don't think it bothers my writing at all, and my friends and I text frequently," says Torres, who will study journalism at Bowling Green State University this fall.

Whatever the case, text-messaging is ubiquitous. In June 2001, cell phone users sent 30 million text messages in the U.S. A year later, that number had jumped to nearly 1 billion.

It's also created a small but burgeoning cottage industry of books about the subject. In addition to Ream's book, American University linguist Naomi Baron has just published Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World.

Baron says worrying about the impact of technology on written language night be missing the point. Text-messaging, instant-messaging cell phones and other advancements, she argues, probably have a greater effect on interpersonal relationships.

"We check caller ID on our cell phones before taking the call," she says. "We forward email or text messages to people for whom they were never intended."

That could turn those smiley faces that text-messengers love up side down.

Text Glossary

A3 = Anyplace, anytime

AFK = Away from keyboard

B4N = By for now

BTW = By the way

CNP = Continued in next post

CU = See you

DIKU = Do I know you?

EG = Evil grin

F2F = Face to face

GAL = Get a life

HAND = Have a nice day

IC = I see

IMO = In my opinion

L8R - Later gator

LU4E = Love you forever

OIC = Oh, I see

PAW = Parents are watching

ROTFLMBO = Rolling on the floor, laughing my butt off

SETE = Smiling ear-to-ear

SUP = What's up?

SWAK = Sealed with a kiss

TCOY = Take care of yourself

WFM = Works for me