Why are the USA people doing this?

Question

Why is there an abbreviation for every single thing. I mean I understand abbreviations for coorperate names like NBC CNN HBO etcetera.

But why do americans use so many abbreviations in speaking?

POTC = pirates of the caribbean

LOTR= lord of the rings

ASAP = as soon as possible (why????)

GOP= grand old party (it only shortens it by 1 syllable what's the point?)

Answer 1

The only one I use is ASAP...

Answer 2

texting on cell phones.  i can't understand half the **** my girlfriend text's me

Answer 3

It has nothing to do with text messages, Americans have been doing this since the 1930's during the Great Depression.  In fact there were so many government programs with titles like CCC that it was called Alphabet Soup.  It's just a faster way to say a title or a group or a name.  I'm not sure, but you're right that there seems to be an extra fondness for this in America.  Also, they aren't abbreviations.  They are acronyms.  Abbreviations are things like Lt. for lieutenant.  Using the first letters makes it an acronym.

Answer 4

I totally agree with you!  The one that REALLY gets me is GSW - it actually takes longer to say that, than what it actually stands for which is gun shot wound

Answer 5

First you are concerned about how we speak english now you are concerned how we abbreviate certain words. Do you not have anything better to do than to worry about the Americans. You really need to get a life

Answer 6

if you do alot of texting over the phone or IM, then it would be more efficient to type the abbrev. or acronyms..to save time..wouldnt you say?

Answer 7

Another example beside texting on the phone would be taking notes. In class, the professor is giving a lecture and there's information on the board and you need to jot some important information down. Often times, you'll notice some words are being repeated and it could be a long word you would find daunting to rewrite a dozen times so you created a shortcut that you can remember.

Online, abbreviations has become a cultural thing. It's commonly understood. Would you like to write out be right back or brb? It saves time. Abbreviations has been a communication tool. It's a language development.

Some cellphones do not have a full keyboard like the side kick does. Some people have to txt on a regular cell phone and it can certainly be frustrating, so abbreviations can deliver the message quickly. You should use abbreviations because it's fun anyways!

Answer 8

Maybe because Yanks are all busy working and earning money all day long that the don't have enough time to type every letter.

Answer 9

I also wonder about this some times, more so when people do it directly to others (such as in emails), rather than just corporations and businesses, where sometimes it is slightly easier to say the abbreviation (but not that often).

I think some people actually abbreviate things (or do some sort of ridiculous codes), so that when the recipient asks them what they are talking about, and that they don't understand, the person who included all the abbreviations can feel as though they smarter, socially adapted, or more intelligent than the person they are talking to. I don't personally understand this, I mean, what are we supposed to say when someone pops out a pointless abbreviation? "Yeah, Good one mate, you worked out all the first letters of that title, REALLY clever. How long did that take you?"

The time I saw the most abbreviating was when I worked in a government job, and believe me, in that job, people REALLY didn't have anything better to do or think about!

LOL!

(just kidding, hate that abbreviation!)

Answer 10

You forgot the biggest one of all - WMD, just think how many that one has killed.