The use of abreviations :)

[RichardTheFirst]

It always amused me and amased me the fact that Americans and British people use abbreviations so much. You must be the ones who use this the most in the entire world <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> . It is not a critic, just a fact.

I always regarded it as an extra challenge and I didn&#8217;t mind much. But today I just decided to begin asking when I don't understand an abbreviation. After all I wasn't born English and I have no obligation to understand everything. The English Language is already difficult as it is sometimes and there is no dictionary that I know for abbreviations.

I'm also a bit tired to read threads that begins to interest me and abandon the reading because it suddenly turns out too difficult to understand what I'm reading. Doesn't pay the effort.

Some abbreviations are easy for us non-English-speaking people to understand both because they became very common (ASAP, BTW, etc) and others are common "part of the game" expressions (TOE, OOB).

But some one really needs to think a lot before one gets it, and even then sometimes couldn't be completely sure (does IMO means "In My Opinion"?).

Have you English speakers ever consider the implications when you write an abbreviation or you do that on purpose, as a way to try to keep things among yourselves?
I'm just curious... <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[peter hellman]

Such an everyday problem you encountered here, Richard. Good you brought it up. I have the same problem with translating those abbreviations every day, some of them I know, some of them I guess, and the rest stays in the void.

A military wargamer's wordbook for translating abbreviations would be welcomed. Anyway, MCAAHNY
(Merry Christmans and a Happy New Year)

[RichardTheFirst]

Originally posted by peter:
Such an everyday problem you encountered here, Richard. Good you brought it up. I have the same problem with translating those abbreviations every day, some of them I know, some of them I guess, and the rest stays in the void.

A military wargamer's wordbook for translating abbreviations would be welcomed. Anyway, MCAAHNY
(Merry Christmans and a Happy New Year)

---

Well, since it is Christmas perhaps our american friends can give us a present and start using that a lot less <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> . MCAAHNY to you too.

[RichardTheFirst]

I just reminded one thing I used to do when playing Bridge at the MSN Gaming Zone.

When somebody asks that "Where are u all from" question I used to wait for the others to answer.

There was always one or two "PE", "NYC" or "TX" kind of answers.

Then it was my turn and I say "LX-PT"

Silence. 5 mins elapsed.

Then it cames the mandatory question "Alright Richard, where is LX-PT?".

Never fails...

[asgrrr]

I sure agree with you, I think it's just silly how much the english speakers use abbreviations, especially as they are generally single letter ones. The german convention for abbreviation is different, for example GeStaPo = Geheime StaatsPolizei. Much less room for misunderstanding. VD, what is that? Vehicle Dust or Veneral Disease?

[Don Doom]

Originally posted by Penetrator:
I sure agree with you, I think it's just silly how much the english speakers use abbreviations, especially as they are generally single letter ones. The german convention for abbreviation is different, for example GeStaPo = Geheime StaatsPolizei. Much less room for misunderstanding. VD, what is that? Vehicle Dust or Veneral Disease?

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Vehicle Dust is never abbreviated! so guess what VD means <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[richmonder]

Well, I never thought about this issue from that angle. I will admit to being irritated by the abbreviations myself from time to time. I will try to use them less for the benefit of others.

[valdor17]

If you thinks Americans in general are bad, you should see the American Military. I've sat through two hour briefings that were nothing but abbreviations and acronyms with a few high-speed buzz words thrown-in.

Some choice abbreviations/acronyms:

Plt; Co; Bn; TF; BN/TF; BCT; METT-T (or is it METT-TC now?); OCOKA; IPB; MOOSE MUSS; MDMP; FCS; TOC; CATK (or, sometimes C/Atk); OPFOR; CG; IG; FLOT; FEBA; BSA; CONUS; OCONUS; APFT; Recon; Intell; etc; etc;

Of course, I work in a BSC--Battle Simulation Center with several different simulations: Janus (which is NOT an abbreviation), JCATS (which is) and Firesim. (When they are connected together through DIS they become DBST!)

The bad part is--we don't even realize we are doing it. <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

One time our TSR (or is it our CSR now!) was giving a briefing to some visiting school teachers and counselers about what their students would learn if they became field artillerymen. It went something like this:

The FO requests a FFE using his FED. The FDC processes the FFE request using either AFATDS or IFSAS and transmit the mission through the BOC to the POC which will assign the misssion to a specific SPLL...

After 15 minutes of that, I wasn't even sure what he was talking about--but I'm sure they were impressed by our fully animated Power Point presentation. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Of course, the absolutely WORST abbreviation is British--Coy for Company <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> ]

[bchapman]

Here is a list of some of the Abreviations and Acronyms posted here before:
ROTFL = Roll On The Floor Laughing
IIRC = If I Recall Correctly
LOL = Laugh Out Loud or Lot's Of Laughing
LOL = Lot of Luck
IRL: In Real Life
RTFM: Read the fine (or otherwise) manual
SNAFU: Situation normal, all fouled up.
JANFU = Joint Army Navy Foul Up
TUIFU = The Ultimate In Foul Up's
IMHO = In My Humble Opinion
AFAIK - as far as I know
BOHICA-Bend Over, Here It Comes Again
DILIGAS-Does It Look Like I Give A S***
WAFWAT-What A F****** Waste Of Time
FIIGMO - (F*** It, I Got My Orders) Usually used around the time of your EAS (End of Active Service) and not the guy in the posts.
FAP - Fleet Assistance Program (Getting assigned as an MP, range coach, etc)
TAD - Temporary Additional Duty
BC - Battalion Commander
UA - Unauthorized Abscence (USMC version of AWOL)
UDP - Unit Deployment Program (6 month overseas tour)
FNG - F***ing New Guy
AO - Area of Operations
BIOYA - Blow It Out Your A**
FMF - Fleet Marine Forces
MEB - Marine Expeditionary Brigade
MEU(SOC) - Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)
MEF - Marine Expeditionary Force
BAS - Battalion Aid Station
FAC - Forward Air Controller
STA Platoon - Surveillance and Target Acquisition Platoon (Battalion Sniper Teams)
ANGLICO - Air/Naval Gunnery LIason COmpany
SRIG - Special Reconnaisance/Intelligence Group
CIT - Counter Intelligence Team
FDC - Fire Direction Center (For plotting arty)
SAW - Squad Automatic Weapon
ATG - Anti-Tank Gun
ATGM - Anti-Tank Guided Missile
LAAW - Light Anti-Armor Weapon
SMEAC - (aka the 5 Paragraph Order) Situation, Mission, Equipment, Admin/logostics, Command/signals (This was used when writing warning orders in preparation for an operation.)
BAMCIS - (Used when operation planning) Begin planning, Arrange recon, Make recon, Continue planning, Implement, Supervise
BST/EST Book - (aka the Green Monster) The Marine Corps Battle Skills Training/Essential Subject Training manual. (Everyone got one and most lost them when they could manage)
and finally
FUBAR!!!
Fu**ed up beyond all reallity!!(or recognition)
AFV = Armored Fighting Vehicle
POW or PW = Prisoner of War
MIA = Missing In Action
SATCOM = Satallite communication
R&R = Rest & Relaxation - or Recuperation
VIP = Very Important Person
KP = Kitchen Patrol
MOOSE MUSS is of course referring to the principles of war:
Maneuver
Objective
Offensive
Suprise
Economy of force
Mass
Unity of Command
Simplicity
Security
MMFD - Miles and Miles of "Fine" Desert. (Used by the RAF in the mideast, when asked for their position.)
REMF - Rear Echelon Mother f*****. Usually to do with support troops - but many use it for anybody farther back from the fighting than they are.
C3CM = Command and Control CounterMeasures, those actions taken to deny your opponent the abilty to C&C his forces. Your options to do so are to deceive, deny, disrupt or destroy his forces.

[troopie]

Here a few I use:

OG/OA- Operasionale Gebied/Operational Area
Romeo Mike Team- Reaction Force (Reaksiemag)
LMG- Light Machine gun
C3I- Command, Control, Communication, Intelligence
Recce- Reconnaissance
UDI-Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Also means a desertion)
RTO- Radiotelephone operator
FO- Forward Observer.
Para(s)-Paratrooper(s)
K-Car- Killer Car (Originally an Alouette III but now any helicopter gunship)
terr(s)- Terrorist(s)
Charlie Tango(s) or CT-Communist Terrorists.
Oscar Tango(s)- Our Terrorists
Essandess- Short and surgical, means a long, hard, bloody fight.
BG- Bloody(blerrie) Good
NBG-No Bloody(Blerrie) Good
ABC-Atomic, Biological, Chemical


troopie

[asgrrr]

Originally posted by Valdor:

After 15 minutes of that, I wasn't even sure what he was talking about--but I'm sure they were impressed by our fully animated Power Point presentation. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

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Pffft... powerpoint and abbreviations. No wonder the subject got lost.
Anyway, excessive abbreviation is a bad habit, like smoking or picking your nose in public. If you don't think the vast majority of the audience understands an abbreviation, don't use it. Perhaps this comes down to two things: Laziness and/or wanting to seem superior by flinging unfamiliar phrases.

[richmonder]

Having grown up with a father who was a rather high-level NSA exec (civilian), I can tell you one thing - it is a direct result of the amount of geeks and social introverts employed by governments (not that we have any of those here, folks!).

Oh yeah, a few more things. It's also borne from:

1) Need for expediency

2) Need for secrecy (relatively speaking)

3) Absolute lack of social manners in the company of those not in the know.

[RichardTheFirst]

Not being an Englishman I always admired one character from a movie: Professor Higgins from "My Fair Lady".

Of course I'm not that radical but the man had a point: our language is a precious gift from our ancestors and it is our responsibility to cherish that gift. I try to do that with my language, which is a complex, rich, marvellous one. Everybody should do the same.

Another thing it is for me evident: whenever you address a foreign person you act in a small scale like an ambassador from your country. I don't think you Americans would like the rest of the world to think you are a lazy, or arrogant, or too self-centred people.

I sure don't think that way, but sometimes that is the image you pass outside.

[pax27]

This was truly a great thread for people that spend some time online. It´s bad enough when americans use abbrevations, but when my swedish friends starts to use 'em when chatting, it get´s really confusing. Now I have two languages of abbrevations to keep up with.
One time a friend wrote BRB to me while ICQ chatting, and I just kept writing, wondering why he didn´t respond. Little did I know that he ment he was going to Be Right Back!
Or the answers I got on a post on this forum, someone writing something, staring it with IIRC and later: IMHO. <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> OK, I got it eventually, but sience IRC is a different means of chatting (or whatever), I started to think this guy wanted to take the discussion over/with mIRC (some chat program or something that I don´t use)
Everyday drama!
Try seeing it from my POV (Point Of View) <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

[richmonder]

Well, this board is a unique experience on a big scale for many of us. SPWaW is a game that has brought together enthusiasts of many different nations into one forum. This type of communication problem is quite understandable. So it's something we have to learn to work around. I can't say I've ever been in a forum (or anywhere else) that has people from so many nations speaking about a subject.

On the other hand (OTOH), we do become accustomed to speaking to same-language peoples in a particular style or vein, and communication styles differ around the globe. So while general abbreviations and acronyms may be acceptable for the average American, apparently it is a little too much to ask most non-Americans to put up with or use. I can respect that. Reason being I respect the fact that we speak in English in this forum for the most part and you (non-Americans) are putting forth the energy to try to communicate in that language.

I'd rather we not get into the 'why Americans are like this' because that leads into the 'why Germans are like that' or 'why Hispanics are like this' or whatever. Let's let that go for this thread. I understand the social interest because I have it also, but it could become a defensive, explosive thread. Better to do that type of inquiry in an email, I'd think.

But the masses shall do what the masses shall do.

[richmonder]

Pax27 - LOL!! (everyone needs to learn that one)

I remember the first time I saw BRB in a chat room. I had been online with an online baseball simulation league and the owner (controller) of the group wrote out "BRB". I said "OK" and headed off to the bathroom, too!

HAHAHAHAHA

[Les_the_Sarge_9_1]

I can sympathise with people that hate abbreviations. I hate them as well.

Now of course its an army tradition to use goofy letter intensive word things, and its not likely going away.

My main beef is with net jargon.

I hate people that use letter combos that should be properly written out. its an indication of the person either being lazy or in just to damn big a hurry.

I personally think its both myself.

Lazy because technology is about getting something done the easiest way possible. Or its about to much of a hurry as evidenced by the proliferation of people seeking faster and faster computers. The computer is never fast enough it seems.

I chat all the time on icq myself. Most of the day in fact. And I write each and every word out in full to the best of my vocabulary. I never skimp and use cute letter or number words.
And I still get people saying I send messages to fast heheh.

One thing I can say in favour of properly writing out a word, is it doesnt lead to confused non fluent english speaking persons getting the wrong message.

And I know only to well what happens when fluency is a barrier.

So I would advocate posts using proper english when written as english simply so that our less than fluent persons dont lose out.

[Tombstone]

Much of these abbreviations such as LOL, LMAO, BRB, etc. are more a product of the internet than anything english or american. They come out a need to optimize typing since a great deal of real-time communication occurs over the internet via the keyboard. The military use of acronyms is another issue altogether, and it is totally out of control. It's madness to read text with more acronyms than words (sans articles, and conjugations of to be).

Tomo

[fat slob]

Originally posted by Tombstone:
Much of these abbreviations such as LOL, LMAO, BRB, etc. are more a product of the internet than anything english or american. They come out a need to optimize typing since a great deal of real-time communication occurs over the internet via the keyboard...
Tomo

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EXACTLY!
It's not something us English speakers are doing to purposely withhold something or make us feel superior to non-English speakers as someone suggested in an earlier post. (ridiculous!)

But English is an international language anymore.
And like it or not, this web site and many others are made by people to whom English is the native language!
The people on this forum did not invent these acronyms.
Like me, we pick them up after being exposed to them on many different forums and websites.
It's part and parcel of using the Internet, like it or not.
So lay off of the American bashing!

[RichardTheFirst]

I will use an expression I heard when I was in a business travel in England.

"We are in a violent agreement"

<img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0">