Mobile message gets recognition

------Ma Shuo cctv.com 08-17-2005 16:25

Literature has literally jumped off the pages in recent decades. Following the Internet, the surge of mobile phone users is now the stage for a new forms of writing -- short text messages a stage for short message literature. Here in Beijing, a national text message composition contest has been held.

Thanks to the surge in mobile phone users, short text messages -- or SMS for short -- are becoming a standard mode of communication. During traditional Chinese holidays, more than 200-million people send their best wishes to friends and relatives.

Mobile Phone User said, "Lots of people love this form, the welcome greeting in daily life, and wishes in festivals. It conveys warmness."

The use of SMS is also drawing attention in literary fields. Under the slogan of "Move your thumb and be a big writer", China's first text message composition contest was held. Around 50-thousand works, including love letters and novels, were collected over the past eight months. Leading Chinese writers were invited as judges.

Philosopher & SMS Contest Judge Zhou Guoping said, "I'm astonished by these works, they're much better than I have expected, beyond my expectations. Some can be considered exquisite."

A 14-line poem named "The Light Before" took top prize. It chronicled tender feelings among people living in poor conditions.

SMS Contest Winner Zhang Shaomin said, "Message composition benefits the public. It helps to promote Chinese, and the essence of the language."

Themes and content of the new medium are no longer limited to snappy humor. The contest is annual, and will collect more domestic and overseas Chinese works.

Editor:Hu Hang  Source:CCTV.com