Alberta Internet users are heavyweights when it comes to talking tech.

A new Canadian study reveals Albertans are most likely of all English-speaking Canadian Internet users to use a blend of words, symbols and acronyms to communicate by e-mail, instant messaging and chat rooms.

Lingo Online: The Language of the Keyboard Generation, a joint study by University of Waterloo English professor Neil Randall and Web portal MSN.CA, suggests Internet users are blending spoken and written English to an extent never seen before.

The study shows English-speaking Internet users are increasingly expressing body language and emotions through the written word with the use of so-called emoticons – pictographs of different facial expressions such as happy and sad.

“Language is never fixed – it is constantly evolving to reflect changes in society,” says Randall.

“This study shows online culture has bred a new language that allows for greater creativity and expression. People are adapting to online communication and as a result have learned to speak with their fingers.”

To save time, 86 per cent of survey respondents say they use acronyms such as ‘G2G’ (got to go) and ‘TTYL’ (talk to you later) in e-mail messages and 76 per cent use them when sending instant messages.

The study found 25 per cent of Alberta Internet users know the term ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing), compared to only 13 per cent in the Prairies and 17 per cent of Ontarians. Albertans also led in awareness of other terms.

This new language is almost universally known among Canadians under the age of 20, but the study found that even their parents and older generations know some of the terms.

Ninety-one per cent of survey respondents age 20 to 34 and 84 per cent of those 35 and over use emoticons in e-mail conversations with friends. The study also found that 55 per cent of online users surveyed invent their own short forms and abbreviations that they use when instant messaging with friends. Sixty per cent of people believe emoticons help them express their feelings and 40 per cent believe that emoticons allow them to express their individuality online.

Happily, the study also found that most online users understand the importance of traditional language, with only 18 per cent of respondents saying they would use emoticons when e-mailing business associates.