By, Farah Aishah Rosli
The emergence of digital media, mainly social media, has created a new realm for linguistic expansion, especially among youth. Youths, as the majority of social media consumers, have almost entirely taken over the digital world by creating their own space there. Beginning with how they interact, how they express their thoughts and how they communicate, language has become one of the prominent elements in their space. Youths, who mostly come from Generation Z, individuals born between 1997 to 2012, have unconditionally invented their own way of interacting among themselves as the inventors of their own understanding of language.
Taking TikTok as an example, once you enter TikTok, it is like entering a new world through a virtual portal. A galaxy of abbreviations, slang, playful words and even riddles of languages. For outsiders, it may seem like the words that appear in the apps are gibberish. But from linguist’s perspective, it is something fascinating. It is proof that languages are vigorously expanding and evolving, a testament that language reflects one’s culture, identity, as well as proving the power of it in the digital age. According to Jeresano and Carretero (see: https://uijrt.com/articles/v3/i4/UIJRTV3I40002.pdf), the slang used by Gen Z on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook reflects their need to fit in with the cultural norms of their peers and the specific social dynamics of each platform. Hence, by making use of slang and language that only their generation understands, it motivates Gen Z to create a distinct group identity that separates them from the older generations for Puspita & Ardianto (see: https://doi.org/10.53696/27753719.41127).
Linguistically speaking, Gen Z’s language invention is not something negative. It is not a sign that language is being distorted, either, but it is rich with insights about modern communication. From a linguist’s lens, the invention of language usage on social media explains how this generation’s language usage reflects multiple linguistic phenomena:
- Compounding and Blending: Words like rizz (from charisma) or simp (from simpleton) demonstrate morphological creativity
- Acronymization: Phrases like IKTR (I know that’s right), FRFR (for real for real), and IJBOL (I just burst out laughing) show how compression is key in fast-paced digital environments.
- Semantic Shift: Traditional words like slay or dead are recontextualised to mean doing well or laughing hysterically.
In the Malaysian context, where Malaysians are majority bilingual, this phenomenon is not something that would surprise linguists or ordinary social media users. It is something familiar and most likely to happen, as most of us speak more than two languages. This phenomenon, known as code-switching or code-mixing, is normal to happen in a country where bilingualism exists. Basically, it is not lazy English, but rather a language innovation produced according to current era relevance and culture.
Despite the beauty and positive sides of linguistics, it bears concern towards the other social media users, especially the older generation, who think language is at risk of declining. While their concern is not something to be unvalidated, it could be concerning, of course. Teachers, parents and even employers often have these thoughts that Gen Z is too prone to using casual language, and it might fail their formal communication skills.
Linguists have to acknowledge this risk and concern raised, however, it is important to keep in mind that Gen Z is capable of code-switching and code-mixing and this does not pose any threat to their communication. In fact, there is also research that has shown that youths, who are predominantly fluent in digital slang, are also often fluent in navigating tone, audience and context that’s critical to 21st-century communication skills. Thus, in a world centred on online culture moving faster than ever, Gen Z’s playful reinvention of language adds the essence of communication as something that shouldn’t be rigid but as a bridge to connect, express and to feel belonged.***
