The Phenomenon of Language Absorption and Word Formation Among Generation Z: A Linguistic Study on Language Use in Social Media

Abstract

This research investigates the phenomenon of language absorption and word formation among Generation Z, focusing on their language use across social media platforms. The study aims to analyze the processes of language absorption and identify the types of word formation that emerge in digital communication among Generation Z users. Using a descriptive qualitative research design combined with content analysis and a digital ethnography approach, the data were collected through online observation and digital documentation from Instagram, TikTok, Twitter (X), and WhatsApp. The findings indicate that Generation Z frequently adopts English lexical items through language absorption and creatively forms new words using processes such as borrowing, derivation, compounding, blending, clipping, acronyms, and neologisms. The data also demonstrate that borrowed words are commonly adapted into Indonesian linguistic structures, producing hybrid expressions that reflect linguistic creativity and the influence of digital communication. Furthermore, the widespread use of code-mixing and code-switching illustrates the dynamic interaction between English and Indonesian in online discourse, contributing to efficient, expressive, and identity-oriented communication. The study concludes that language absorption and word formation have become essential features of Generation Z’s communication on social media, illustrating the continuous evolution of language in response to technological advancement and digital culture.