I totally agree: this is not the type of conversation you want to have limited to 160 characters at a time, filled with LOLSpeak. I actually know a couple who just broke up largely due to the girl's unwillingness to answer her phone and TALK rather than just send texts all the time. Of course there was more to it than just that, but that was a big issue for him and she wouldn't even acknowledge it.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. I hope you get to TALK to him soon and can get a better feel for what's really going on and where his head is. Many hugs for you.