The
use of Indonesian on short-video platforms like TikTok is undergoing a
significant transformation, moving far beyond the constraints of formal
grammar. Mad Rohim and a research team from Universitas Indraprasta PGRI
conducted a pragmatic study in 2026 to dissect how fast-paced, visually-driven
communication on TikTok alters the structures and meanings of everyday
language. Understanding this evolution is crucial, as current linguistic trends
in digital spaces serve as a primary reflection of sociolinguistic changes that
will shape how future generations communicate.
Communication
Challenges in a Fast-Paced Era
On
social media, efficiency is key. The nature of TikTok, driven by short video
durations and visual elements, leads users to abandon formal linguistic
structures. The concern often arises that this shift might erode the standards
of the national language. However, this research from Universitas Indraprasta
PGRI suggests that this is a natural phenomenon of linguistic adaptation in
digital spaces, where communicative context and function take precedence over
strict adherence to grammatical rules.
How
Language Transforms
The
researchers employed a pragmatic approach to track how meaning is constructed
through interactions on TikTok. Data were collected from various TikTok content
throughout 2026, including both spoken expressions and supporting on-screen
text. The analysis focused on dissecting how communicative intent remains clear
even when word choices, abbreviations, and styles differ vastly from standard
norms. The researchers traced the relationship between digital context and how
users derive meaning from each interaction.
Key
Findings: Shifts in Word Choice and Meaning
The
study highlights several dominant patterns of linguistic shifting:
- ·
Dynamic Diction: There is a major shift toward vocabulary choices that
are more casual, concise, and highly expressive, designed to capture viewer
attention.
- ·
Contextual Meaning: The meaning of a word now depends heavily on the
video's context and current trends, rather than on dictionary definitions
alone.
- ·
Intuitive Communicative
Function: TikTok users prioritize the
rapid and efficient delivery of messages, often disregarding punctuation or
complete sentence structures.
- ·
Digital Cultural Adaptation: Language used on TikTok reflects an "instant"
lifestyle, where creativity in linguistic manipulation is a key asset for
making content go viral.
Implications
for Digital Literacy
This
linguistic shift has broad implications for education and digital literacy
policies. Mad Rohim and the team from Universitas Indraprasta PGRI emphasize
that this phenomenon is not a decline in language quality, but a form of
linguistic creativity in new spaces. For the educational sector, these findings
suggest that future Indonesian language instruction should be more open to the
dynamics of digital language. Understanding the pragmatics of social media
language will help educators connect more effectively with students, while also
providing them with the wisdom to discern when to use formal versus casual
digital language appropriately.
Author
Profile:
- Mad
Rohim – Researcher, Universitas
Indraprasta PGRI; Expertise: Indonesian Language and Literature.
- Yanti
Nuryanti – Researcher, Universitas
Indraprasta PGRI; Expertise: Linguistics.
- Eros
Rosmina – Researcher, Universitas Indraprasta
PGRI; Expertise: Language Education.
- Dewi
Rahmawati – Researcher, Universitas
Indraprasta PGRI; Expertise: Sociolinguistics.
- Feri
Muhamad Firdaus – Researcher,
Universitas Indraprasta PGRI; Expertise: Pragmatics.
- Ryan
Hidayat – Researcher, Universitas
Indraprasta PGRI; Expertise: Discourse Analysis.
Research
Source:
Rohim, M., Nuryanti, Y., Rosmina, E., Rahmawati, D., Firdaus, F. M., & Hidayat, R. (2026). "Indonesian Language Transformation on TikTok: A Pragmatic Study of Digital Space 2026". Journal of Language Development and Linguistics (JLDL), 5(1), 71-78.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jldl.v5i1.16530
URL: https://journal.formosapublisher.org/index.php/jldl
0 Komentar