MORPHO-SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF CYBER-SLANG PHENOMENA IN THE INDONESIAN GAMING COMMUNITY ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS

Abstract

Abstract

This research examines the phenomenon of emerging new vocabulary (cyber-slang) within the gaming community and its correlation with everyday language interaction. The focus of the study is limited to morphological and sociolinguistic aspects to understand the mechanisms of word formation and their social functions. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through observation and note-taking techniques of 1,500 lingual units from Live Chat features and streaming audio on digital platforms. The results indicate that the most dominant word-formation processes are hybridization through affixation (such as the prefix nge-) and reduction in the form of acronyms and clipping. Sociolinguistically, the study found a semantic expansion of technical gaming terms into social metaphors in real life, such as the terms NPC, toxic, and bot. The research conclusion emphasizes that gaming language functions as a linguistic laboratory that actively enriches the national informal lexicon and acts as a digital identity badge influencing the speech patterns of modern society.

Keywords: Cyber-slang, Morphology, Sociolinguistics, Gaming Community.