Abstract

Title: “The Use of Neologisms in Social Media Language of

Student Millennials in Senior High School.”

Researcher: Wao, Jessemar J.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the use of neologisms in social
media language of student millennials in Senior High School at Alberto Olarte
Sr. National High School, Balut Island Sarangani, Davao Occidental. This
qualitative research included 72 Grade 11 senior high school students from
two sections. The participants’ Facebook shares, comments, and conversations
using neologisms were collected and analyzed using lexico-semantic analysis.
The neologisms were then identified and categorized according to word
formation processes and subsequently their denotative and connotative
meanings were determined. Three specific results emerged from the data: (1)
neologisms in the Facebook posts of Grade 11 senior high school participants
included abbreviations, compounding, conversion, derivations and clipping; (2)
among the categories of neologisms, abbreviation got the highest frequency of
usage; (3) the connotative meaning of social media neologisms were primarily
based on the popular culture context. Sample online activities on the use of
neologisms were developed to enhance the teaching of emerging vocabulary. It
can be concluded that electronic English used in social media is dynamic and
innovative as it copes with the changes and challenges of the 21st century.

Keywords: neologisms, computer-mediated communication, Facebook,

content analysis