DO YOU know your ROFL from your LOLs?

Maybe not. But if you despair at the thought of today’s youth writing in bizarre acronyms you should have no fear, one academic says.

During a visit to Cokethorpe School, near Witney, Prof David Crystal argued “text” speak is not the death knell for the English language.

In fact, mobile phone and online text spellings, shortened words and even “smileys” – that’s :-) to you and me – are as old as the hills.

Wartime sweethearts, for example, wrote S.W.A.L.K on envelopes – sealed with a loving kiss.

Prof Crystal said: “The students were delighted to hear that somebody was taking the subject seriously.”

He said: “Texting is just a new type of English that has evolved as a result of internet technology.

“It hasn’t had any impact on the rest of the language. The big myth is that texting is somehow harming the language.

“There is no evidence of that. All the recent research shows the best texters are actually the best spellers.

“The more they text the better their literacy is as it gives them the practice in reading and writing they wouldn’t otherwise have.”

Burford A-Level student Alexandra Hutchinson, 17, said: “It was really interesting and gave us something to think about.

“We have always been taught language in a very traditional sense but not the way we use language.”

While she said she strived to use correct grammar and spelling online and in text messages, there was the occasional “atm” and “btw”.

That’s “at the moment” and “by the way”.

Christian Field, 17, from Didcot, said: “It was a surprise to me. I don’t use abbreviations that much, sometimes I will use them online, on social networking sites.”

Didcot’s Louis Allen said he can’t deny he uses such words in text speak.

He said of the lecture: “I abbreviate a lot in my texting, I find it quicker to get all of what I am saying rather than write out the full word.”

This was a force of habit because he uses a “old brick phone” the youngster said.

Modern smart phones like the iPhone now automatically correct bad spelling, meaning text speak could be on the way out.

The 17-year-old said: “I don’t think it has affected me at all, I am doing very heavy essay subjects.”

The lecture formed part of students’ general studies course.