Too much “teen language“ in daily life!
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After graduating with biology major in Thailand, I came to Vietnam to study Vietnamese in a university in Ho Chi Minh City. The more I learn Vietnamese, the more I realize how difficult the language is.
At school, I got to read many books and really like Vietnamese poems and novels. I also often visit the library or online websites to find more resources on Vietnamese literature.
There was one time I found an article written by a young Vietnamese. I tried to read but could not figure out what ideas were being presented. Before I was very confident with my Vietnamese but after reading that piece, I felt anxious and worried since I had supposed young people should write more simply than specialized textbooks.
When I brought that article and showed it to friends and teachers, surprisingly no one understood! Later we came to realize it was written in teen language with abbreviations and slangs that only “insiders” can understand.
Of course there are young people creating and using a special version of their mother tongue in every country. But it seems to me that the issue is becoming prominent in Vietnam as teen language not only exists in writing but also in everyday conversation. Speaking and writing in teen language distort the grammar and spelling standards. It is also a sign that young people show no respect to the beauty of their mother tongue.
In Thailand, young people only use teen language as a short form to chat with friends online. The preservation of mother tongue is of great concern in our country.
As a foreigner studying Vietnamese language, I am sad to see Vietnamese is written or spoken in a bad way. I hope more people will realize the need to preserve Vietnamese and try to use the language correctly. It is a way to show your pride and respect for your own culture.
Kittiworawuthi Pornkanok (Thai, student at HCMC University of Social Science and Humanities)
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