MORPHO-SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF THE CENTENNIAL ROMANTIC TERMS ON TIKTOK

Abstract

The result of digital development has led to various changes, particularly in language, including ongoing shifts in definition. Thus, this corpus-based research highlights language's ever-changing nature as it adapts to the dynamic challenges of modern communication, demonstrating how it constantly evolves to meet the demands of contemporary communication. This study focuses on the 19 romantic terms found on TikTok, which provide insight into how recently learned definitions are frequently linked to social contexts or suggest a close linguistic relationship to the source. The results reveal that, out of 19 terms, 11 were compounding, 4 conversions, and 4 affixations in the morphological shift, suggesting that most GenZers are into combining words to form new meanings. On the other hand, nine metaphors, four narrowing, four widening, and two degenerations, are found in semantic shifts, implying that GenZers are used to representing things symbolically. Since younger generations tend to take a more flexible approach to relationships, they favor terms that allow for ambiguity. This research may serve as a springboard for investigating intergenerational influences, the evolution of language changes over longer periods, and the dissemination of language changes across age groups.