The Emergence of Neologisms and New Linguistic Forms that Impact Communication on TikTok

Abstract

Nowadays, the development of technology is advancing rapidly,
including in the field of communication. Social interaction has shifted
to the digital sphere, with TikTok being one of the most popular social
media platforms that allow users to interact without geographical
restrictions. This development has triggered the emergence of
neologisms and new linguistic features in social media interactions.
Therefore, this study aims to explore the most common forms of
neologism and linguistic forms that have emerged on the TikTok
platforms and illuminate the impact of these phenomena on social
discourse. It also highlights the role of social media as both a platform
for expression and a driving force behind linguistic change. A
qualitative approach with an observation method was applied in this
research to deeply explore these issues. The findings reveal that the
most common type of neologism is lexicographic, with a percentage of
occurrence at 50%, while the use of emojis represents the most
dominant new linguistic form on TikTok. These phenomena have
impacted linguistic changes in social discourse, with the potential for
new words to be added to modern dictionaries. Consequently,
vocabulary continues to expand in line with the advancement of
technology. In addition, this difference in language changes may lead to
communication gaps among generations.