Language is not a static system. It has been changed in accordance with shifted way of thinking, living and working in the human history. Even now there could be some linguists who exert themselves in order to coin new words (especially in technology areas) while some words are in the way of extinction. Likewise textspeak can be regarded as a new phase of language reflected by needs of people in today.
I think it is more attractive to young generations no matter what language it is. That's because many young Korean people prefer to use textspeak rather than orthographically correct words. I think these features of textspeak appeal to its users.
- take less effort to use by shortening words
- feel more comfortable because standard assessment can't be applied
- have more freedom by coining it in their own way
However there is an interesting point in textspeak. Textspeak necessiate some extent of phonological/phonetic awareness in order to coin or decipher it for the users. Even though it looks like there is no consistent rule in using textspeak, it requires complicate linguistic rules to its users.
This aspect of textspeak, I think, is similar to Marcel Ducham's artwork fountain. Marcel Duncham put this readymade urinal in his exhibition , which brough a dispute to people whether it is an art or not. The key issue is where creativity of the artist is in the fountain. The creativity lies in interpreting the artwork instead of making something new. Likewise textspeak seems to be the urinal in the exhibition because it requires logical thinking to use textspeak as language as if audiences need creative thinking to interpret the urinal as art.
However, the use of textspeak without linguistic awareness needs to be prevented. That's because it will destroy and deteriorate the systematic rules in language.
Thus I think children should acquire appropriate language at first. Once they can be aware the systematic rules in languae after learning linguistic information, then they can enjoy using textspeak by applying informed linguistic knowledge.
