A Semantic and Morphological Analysis of Filipino Social Media Lexicon

Abstract

Aims: The dynamic nature of social media has given rise to a continuously evolving lexicon that reflects the cultural values, humor, identity, and communicative practices of its users. This study explores the emergent vocabulary among Filipino digital natives by constructing a curated lexical database of seventy terms derived from popular social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Facebook, and Reddit. Study Design: Utilizing a qualitative descriptive approach, the research combines digital ethnography with a structured open-ended survey involving 100 purposively sampled college students. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted among higher education institutions located in Bulacan, Philippines. This setting was chosen because it represents a diverse and digitally active population of college students who are frequent users of various social media platforms. The study captures the linguistic innovations emerging from a region that is both culturally rich and technologically connected, offering valuable insights into how digital communication influences Filipino youth language. Methodology: The study employed a combination of digital ethnography and a structured open-ended survey to collect linguistic data. A total of 100 purposively sampled college students, identified as active users of social media, participated in the research. The lexical items provided by the participants were subjected to semantic and morphological analysis to determine how meanings are formed, altered, and circulated in online spaces. Results: Findings revealed that neologisms were the most dominant morphological category, followed by mutations, clipping, compounding, blending, initialisms, conversion, and coining. The curated lexicon included terms that reflect current social issues and online behaviors, such as “delulu” (mental health awareness), “stan” (fandom culture), “IJBOL” (digital humor), and “aura farm” (performative identity). Although some of these words have roots in standard English, their meanings shift significantly within online discourse due to platform-specific cultures. Conclusion: The study concludes that social media serves as a powerful catalyst for linguistic innovation, facilitating the transformation of language through the creation and popularization of new words and expressions. This study provides a linguistic and cultural snapshot of the Filipino online community, contributing to global understandings of digital language innovation and cultural identity.