A couple of commenters have slipped into the trap of thinking that since language is always changing, there is no problem. What they miss is that for this to work, the rate of change has to be lower than people's capacity to adapt. The same mistake comes up with GM because there is natural evolution

P.M.Lawrence, Melbourne, Australia

to all dinosaurs-- including myself: get over it! language has always been changing it's just happening more quickly now. the point is that the people receiving the text messages know what they mean. that's called "communication." besides, my son can read normal texts and spell correctly.

dennis kearney, lille, france

Perhaps it does improve linguistic capability. But the ugly abbreviations show children that standards are not needed, and what does that to to all their school classes? The last thing kids in leftist-destroyed schools need is even more laziness. It doesn't take long to write out the words in full.

Erik, Stockholm, Sweden

How ironic, considering that text abbreviations originated with the semi-literate being defeated by the original, clumsy predictive text software.

Liam, Dublin, Ireland

The article does not mention what txtspk does to spelling though...

Nicolas, London,

I'm a teenager, and i have to say, this DOES annoy me. Whenever i write texts, they are always written in a way so that people can understand them. When people text me in such a way that 50% of the letters have been omitted, i don't reply. I can see where they are coming from, but I dont agree!

Adam Bastock , Rugby,

Prithee John de Homphrey, methinks thou hast thy pantalettes in muche twiste aboute y changinge of y wordes. Dost not knowe 'tis common. Aye sirrah, 'tis passing common. So shutte ye it and lette y childer be.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk