Book Title: Advanced Studies in Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation (ASMRI)
Chief Editors: Dr. Jagdish Kumar Sahu and Dr. Krishna Ashutoshbhai Vyas
Associate Editors: Dr. N. Ramesh Chandra Srikanth and Dr. Lourdu Vesna J
Co-Editors: Dr. Aarti Sharma and Dr. Pushpa Mamoria
ISBN: 978-93-7183-010-2
Chapter: 20
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59646/745/20
Author: Anjana Rajeev T
Abstract
Social media has created many changes in the use, sharing and development of language in the digital world. These platforms have developed very interactive environments and communication occurs in real time in both cases, sometimes in a very informal way, to the detriment of the conventional rules of language. This research paper considers the rise of digital dialects in the age of social media, exploring linguistic innovations, communication dynamics and social media communities’ impact on various demographic groups. This research combines a quantitative analysis of the language data from social media with a qualitative method of observation based on the users’ generated content, comments and online interaction on various platforms including Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok etc. The results suggest that social media has speeded up linguistic shifts, thus creating new digital dialects, which are different from the traditional ones, due to the use of abbreviations, emojis, memes, slang, and hybrid language constructions. These patterns are malleable in younger generations, in particular, who are more readily adaptable; older generations may exhibit less adaptability in the use of these patterns because of generational and technological differences. While there is a worry about the degradation of the language with the use of digital dialects, it has also improved the language’s expressive power and helped to communicate in a more efficient, creative, and context-appropriate manner. Furthermore, user engagement indicates specific communication styles: informal, short and symbolic is the preferred mode of engagement in online communication, whereas clarity of context is significant in professional or informational communication. The paper also discusses the educational, communication policy and language preservation implications of digital dialects, which point to the need for new language frameworks that recognize the digital evolution. This research shows that social media is not simply a medium of language but a dynamic linguistic space which influences the structure, use and construction of language. The results can be useful for researchers in the fields of sociolinguistics and digital communication, as they can be used to gain insight into the adaptation of language within technology-driven societies and how the changes in language use may impact communication norms in the future.
Keywords: Digital dialects, social media language, sociolinguistics, online communication, linguistic change, internet slang, emojis, digital communication, language evolution, social media discourse