NEOLOGISMS IN

NETSPEAK LANGUAGE:
A NEW BREED OF
TERMINOLOGIES OF
MILENNIALS
Gryzl Valerie Maturan
Kapalong National High School
INTRODUCTION
-In the United States, a Neilsen poll was conducted in 2008 to define the effects of the use of
Internet Slang via text messaging on Secondary Education. The researchers found negative results
between the use of Internet slangs and the tests results on academic assignments. Majority of the
students have trouble in switching Internet slangs to proper use of English Grammar during
examinations (Fish, 2015).
-In the Philippines, a study of the effect of Short Message Service (SMS) on language proficiency
in public high school of Misamis Oriental revealed a negative result in a diagnostic exam that was
based on the transcription of SMS. The student-respondents who are predominantly exposed to
technology, particularly cellphones and gadgets, perform poorly regarding their proficiency skills in
terms of grammar, spelling and vocabulary (Abroguena, 2016).
-In Kapalong, netspeak language is also widely used by the students. According to Mrs. Amor O.
Obedo, an English Teacher of Kapalong National High School, the impact of the internet
terminologies is eminent in the academic writings of the students. Some of the students use
inappropriate terms and abbreviations in their formal writing, instead of the standard and proper
terminologies that brings big problem in their formality.

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Specifically, this study sought answers to
the following questions:
[Link] are the linguistic features of neologisms in
netspeak language?
[Link] do neologisms shape the culture of netspeak
community?
[Link] are the insights of the participants in using
neologisms
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THEORETICAL LENS
This study was based on the Štekauer’s Onomasiological
Theory of Word Formation which stresses that, when a
need to name a new concept arises, the speech community
determines the relevant conceptual properties, and turns to
its language. This provides naming mechanisms such as
word formation, borrowing or other morphological
processes, and word meaning extension to fully respond to
the naming needs of the speech community (Štekauer &
Lieber as cited by Panocová, 2015).
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RESEARCH DESIGN
A qualitative research design in a
phenomenological approach was employed in
this undertaking. It was qualitative research
since it deals with a variety of analytic
procedures with the intention of collecting and
authenticating social phenomena in a
systematically and descriptive manner.
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RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
The participants should be 16-20 years old and
an enrolled student of Kapalong National High
School. He/she should have accounts on all the
famous social media platforms, uses the
internet for 5 hours a day and uses netspeak
language themselves and these accounts should
be 3 years old or even more.
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RESULTS
Table 1
Initialism in Netspeak Neologisms
Distinct Word Example of Utilization
Neologism Components Meaning
SML S+M+L “share mo lang” “I don’t think you’re doing it right.”
“Sml?”
SKL S+K+L “share ko lang” I don’t think you’re doing it right. Skl.
TBH T+B+H “to be honest” TBH, he’s not what you think he is.
DIY D+I+Y “do it yourself” DIY Explosion Box
OTW O+T+W “on the way” “The boss is already here. Where are you?”
“otw.”
EZ E+Z “easy” “Thesis? EZ!”
CTTO C+T+T+O “credits to the owner” “ctto: Juan Dela Cruz”
TY T+Y “thank you” “Did you receive my present?
“Yes, ty!”
SS S+S “stay strong” “SS ng malutong sa inyo pre!”
DP D+P “display picture” “Wow nice shot. I will change my dp with this
later.”

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RESULTS

OOTD O+O+T+D “Outfit of the Day” “#OOTD”

RK R+K “rich kid” “Uy nakabraces. Rich kid!”
QT Q+T “cutie” “Hi qt ”
TYT T+Y+T “take your time” “Hey mom’s here. Chat you later.”
“Ok tyt.”
LMAO L+M+A+O “laughing my ass out” “You nailed it. LMAO”
GG G+G “good game” “Defense na this Sunday. GG!”
GGWP G+ G + W + P “good game well played” “First blood. GGWP!”

GGSS G+G+S+S “gandang-ganda sa sarili” “Nagbaha imong nawong sa akong feed. GGSS
kei”
BRB B+R+B “be right back” “working on my thesis. Brb”

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RESULTS
Table 2
Acronym in Netspeak Neologisms

Distinct Word Example of Utilization

Neologism Components Meaning

LOL L+O+L “laugh out loud” “You’re nuts. LOL!”

YOLO Y+O+L+O “you only live once” #YOLO

EUT E+U+T “eskwela ug tarong” “Eut for the future.”

WUN W+U+N “where u now” “WUN? I’m waiting

outside.”

ASAP A+S +A+ P “as soon as possible” “Send me the pics.

ASAP”

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RESULTS
Table 3
Compounding in Netspeak Neologisms

Neologism Distinct Word Meaning Example of Utilization

Components
throwback throw + back to reminisce a memory from the Mga panahon nga napasagdan
past and is usually supported with sa kusina. #throwback
a picture from it
beastmode beast + mode a slang to describe person that is “You don’t care anymore about
angry the harsh words you utter when
you’re in beastmode.”
realtalk real + talk an introductory slang that a person “Realtalk. You’re not anymore
uses when he or she has to tell the person that I used to know.”
something rhetorical to the
receiver/s with no further sugar-
coating.
fuckboy fuck + boy This refers to a boy that enters a “Don’t get fooled. He’s a
relationship basically for sex. fuckboy.”
After getting what he wants, he
leaves the girl and find another
girl, preferably a virgin, to do the
same thing all over again WOODGROVE 10
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RESULTS

Seenzone seen + zone Seenzone is when a user sends a “Wala man reply. Seenzone
message and expects a reply but ko.”
he or she did not get any,
although the receiver already
saw the message.
friendzone friend + zone Friendzone is when a person is “He just sees me as a friend.
being dumped upon receiving the Friendzone is real.”
statement “We can only be friends.
Nothing more than that” from the
person he or she desires.
goaldigger goal + digger a goal-oriented person Aim high. Soar high.
#goaldigger
Laughtrip laugh + trip used by person when he or she “This guy is nuts. Laughtrip!”
sees a hilarious feed in social
media
floodlikes flood+likes to intentionally hit the Like or “Oh my God, I got a floodlike
thumbs-up button in numerous from him.”
posts of a Facebook user a single
short timeframe WOODGROVE 11
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RESULTS
Table 4
Derivation in Netspeak Neologisms

Neologism Distinct Word Meaning Example of Utilization

Components
Jowable jowa + able used to describe a person that “Jowable naman ako, pero
can be a boyfriend or a bakit wala akong jowa?”
girlfriend
asawable asawa + able used to describe a person that “Pakilala mo naman ako sa
can be a husband or wife pinsan mong asawable.”

tweetable tweet + able anything that is worth to be “Look at the likes and
tweeted on twitter shares on my FB post
yesterday.”

“Hey, this is tweetable.”

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RESULTS
Table 5
Semantic Change in Netspeak Neologisms

Neologism Distinct Word Meaning Example of Utilization

Components
Odong Odong a term used to describe a sexy “Lami pa nis odong oy.”
(a kind of Filipino noodle and beautiful person
that usually cooked with
sardines)

Wall Wall a Facebook user’s timeline on “Visit my wall. You can find
Facebook there the video I’ve mentioned
yesterday.”

Slay Slay denotes a female displaying her “Slay, Juana. Slay”

stunning appeal and beauty

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RESULTS

Tag Tag include another user in a “Tag me when you post

Facebook user’s status or our pics yesterday.”
post
Friend Friend a person included to “I don’t think I can stalk
Facebook user’s list of his wall. We’re not friends
social network on Facebook.”

Like Like A feature on Facebook “Please like the pictures of

(to enjoy or get denoted by a thumbs-up the candidates for Ms.
pleasure from) symbol Bario Wakwak 2018.”

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RESULTS
Table 6
Coinage in Netspeak Neologisms

Neologism Distinct Word Meaning Example of Utilization

Components
Walwal walwal wasting most of a person’s time “Maintain a good
in shenanigans and is usually credential. Wag puro
associated with drinking walwal.”
alcoholic beverages with a group
of friends
Noob noob weak or loser “Hahahaha. I can tell that
you’re NOOB.”
Meme meme a new term defined as a picture “New memes are coming.
with caption on it that usually Popcorns please.”
denotes life lessons, humor and
sarcasm

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RESULTS

Shookt shook + t a new term used by person when “Watch the video I’ve
he or she feels really affected by shared last night. Em
an encounter or a certain shookt.”
experience
level 9999… level + 999999 an expression to describe an “Lord I entrust my healing in
extraordinary and mind-blowing you. Pain level 99999”
person, thing or event

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RESULTS
Table
Multiple Word Formation Processes in Netspeak
Neologisms
Neologism
Neologism Distinct
DistinctWord
WordComponents
Components Meaning
Meaning Example
ExampleofofUtilization
Utilization
Abugbog
AbugbogBerna
Berna   a a––prefix
prefix This
This isis anan expression used toto“Abugbug
expression used “Abugbug Berna Berna tungod
tungod sasa
sarcastically
sarcastically describe physicalthesis”
describe a a physical thesis”
  bugbog-
bugbog- Filipino
Filipino term
term for
forfight
fight between
between two two oror moremore
physical
physicalabuse
abuse persons.
persons. This
Thiscan
canalso usedtoto“Away
alsobebeused “Away oh. oh. Abugbog
Abugbog Berna!
Berna!
  Berna
Berna –– the
the name
name ofof the
thedescribe
describea aphysically
physicallydrained
drainedandandHahaha!”
Hahaha!”
person
personwhowhowas
wasreported
reportedtotoexhausted
exhaustedperson.
person.
physically
physicallyabuse
abusea achild
childinin
the
thePhilippines
Philippines
Hokage
Hokage Hokage
Hokage a aperson
personwho
whowould
wouldmake look“Hokages
makeititlook “Hokages are are prevalent
prevalent outout
like
likethey
theyaccidentally
accidentallygrabbed
grabbedthe [Link]!”
thethere. Careful!”
hand
hand ofof anan unsuspecting
unsuspecting girlgirl oror
putting
putting his his hands
hands overover her her
shoulder.
shoulder. ThisThis can can also
also bebe
associated
associatedtotosexual
sexualharassment.
harassment.
Sana
Sanaall
all Sana
Sana++All
All ananexpression
expressionused
usedbybyperson
person whowho“Look
“Lookatatjust
justhow
howsweet
sweethishisboy
boy
“All”
“All” isis borrowed
borrowed from from the
thewishes
wishes toto experience
experience thethe same
[Link]
Sanaall.”
all.”
English
Englishlanguage
languagetotoreplace
replacethe
thegood
good thing
thing that
that another
another person
person
Filipino
Filipinoword
wordlahat
lahatininthe
thephrase
phraseexperiences
experiences WOODGROVE
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RESULTS

Advance ako  advance is borrowed term a sarcastic expression used by a “Paaasahin at iiwan mo rin
mag-isip from the English language person who overthinks or ako eventually. Advance ako
 Ako – personal pronoun assumes that an event will mag-isip.”
singular referring to I or happen
me
 Mag-isip – to think
Ayoko na sa  Ayoko – blending of ayaw an expression used by a person “Shame! Corrupt politicians use
Earth and ko when he is annoyed of something people’s ignorance to stay in
power. Ayoko na sa Earth!”
 Earth is borrowed from
English language
Wala na finish na “Finish is borrowed from the an expression used by a hopeless “When a mad dog runs after
English language to replace the person when he can’t do anything you. Wala na finish na.”
Filipino word tapos in the anymore about a certain event
phrase “wala na tapos na”

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RESULTS Table 8

Themes and Core Ideas on How Neologisms Shape the Culture of Netspeak Community

Emerging Themes Core Ideas

 “The neologism is used most of the time by the young people nowadays, because it makes them feel that they cope
Neologisms as with the trends.” – IDI-002
 “When something is in trend the 21st century users of online communication tend to adapt that trends.” – IDI-003
Trendsetters  “I just adapt it so I could be able to cope up with the trends, so that I will not be outdated.” – IDI-005
 “Yeah it’s the trend. Just the trend. Yeah. And of course cope with the trends.” – FGD-004
 “The best impact of neologisms in the netspeak community is that it makes communication faster and more
Improved convenient for the users.” – IDI-003
 “It could hasten the communication process in a short period of time.” – IDI-005
Communication Process  “Neologisms really affect the online communication. The positive side is it makes it faster.” – FGD-001
 “Neologisms will make a communication faster.” – FGD-002
 “They're lazy. We are lazy. We are lazy to write word by word.” – IDI-001
Neologisms for  “The users are offered with new words that they can use to lessen their time. Instead of typing long words, you can
just use three initials of the word or other terminologies.” – IDI-002
Convenience  “Neologism sometimes or usually, they helps us in communication process, because as I have said it helps us
minimize our time in texting or in typing long messages.” – IDI-004
 “It’s tiring to type ‘hahaha’. So, it’s LOL.” – FGD-007
 “They can express whatever they want to express in a brief way or in a short way.” – IDI-001
Avenue For Expression  “It is somewhat a way for them to express what they feel using those neologism.” – IDI-006
 “It can be used in different expressions.” – FGD-002
 “Neologism is used for expression in the online. It’s for expression purposes for the cyber for the online world” –
FGD-007
 “It appears because of the keypad cellphones before, but right now they are applied in social media.” – IDI-001
Product of  “I think one that contributes to its production is the free data provided by the telecommunication.” – IDI-005
 “I think the first factor in the influence and production of these neologism is the technology itself.” – IDI-006
Technological  “So we all know that students or persons nowadays are inclined in social media. So they tend to use that ay those
Advancement words to communicate.” – IDI-007
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RESULTS

 “They really feel they belong if they use those neologisms.” – IDI-004
 “People may might use it so that they will feel that they are accepted also not just in the online society but also in real
Sense of Social life.” – IDI-006
Belongingness  “Neologisms also have become the basis for you to feel that you are part of the community, in the society.” – FGD-
002
 “It cannot accurately describe what you want, or give meaning to what you want to express.” – IDI-001
 “They are talking to someone and they don't want them to be hurt. So they're going to use those neologisms, so that
Source of Ambiguity that particular person will not be offended or they will misunderstood.” – IDI-006
 “Also so the essence of the communication and how passionate you are towards each other somehow delineates.–
FGD-003
 “It can have multiple definition.” – FGD-005
 “Usually I put that LOL even though the conversation is when it’s not even funny.” – FGD-007
 “It cannot accurately describe what you want, or give meaning to what you want to express.” – IDI-001
 “There are these people who do not know or who do not understand the context of your neologisms.” – IDI-003
Tendencies for  “It tends to distract the conversation itself especially when you are conversing with someone that who doesn't
Miscommunication understand those neologism.” – IDI-006
 “Sometimes using these neologisms can alead to miscommunication.” – FGD-002
The Unavoidable  “If you use it in a wrong situation other people may laugh at them or say that they are dumb.” – IDI-006
 “It serves as a means for those cyberbullies too.” – IDI-007
Rise of Conflicts  “people becomes nonsense to talk with.” – FGD-002

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RESULTS
Table 10
Core Ideas on the Insights of the Participants in Using Neologisms

Emerging Themes
Core Ideas
 “The advantages of using neologism is that you can express your emotion in social media.” – IDI-001
 “It helps me to easily express what I want to express.” – IDI-005
An Opportunity to Express  “A neologism helps me to express myself especially in social media.” – IDI-006
 “You can share something or you can express yourself.” – IDI-007
Oneself  “You could exchange ideas through the just using neologism.” – FGD-007

 “You can connect with people..” – IDI-001

 “When we are talking like it is only two of us talking on the comments on social media, so there is this presence of
Social Intimacy privacy for the two of us because only the two of us understand what are the neologisms.” – IDI-006

 “Abbreviated or shortened words like FYI do violates it (technicalities of writing).” – IDI-002

 “It has also a negative impact in terms of linguistic competence.” – IDI-003
Delineating Linguistic  “When you usually use neologisms sometimes you will forget what is the right term or what is the right spelling of that
certain words.” – IDI-004
Competence  “Instead of being able to spell out the words correctly in writing they will mispelled it because they were influenced by
nelo- neologisms.” – IDI-005

 “It builds new system in language.” – IDI-002
 “The impact is that uhmm we also acquire new terms. We also acquire neologisms.” – IDI-004
Language Dynamism  “For me uhmm it somehow degenerates the use of language. It's because it might change the language itself, ahh the
language itself.” – IDI-007
 “Language is changing and it gives new terms.” – FGD-001
 “Those will be added in our language.” – FGD-003
 “Language is dynamic. Some words are produced, some words get lost. So, if new terms will rise, might be those
infrequently used terms will be lost.” – FGD-006

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IMPLICATION FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING

The shifts of the technological pendulum over the years have been rapid. Exposure to
the digital world means exposure to the online world and the Netspeak language. However,
exposure to Netspeak language has negative impacts to the linguistic competence and
language learning. The study on Netspeak language spreads the awareness that this type of
language is highly informal and inappropriate in the context of academe. The students must
seek guidance from their teachers on the situational background of the language usage. If one
is learning language without learning about the contexts in which it operates, the students are
learning empty or meaningless new terms or they may attach the incorrect meaning to what is
being taught.
On the brighter side, awareness about Netspeak language implies that language is
changing and the students are very quick to adapt to it. It shows that the students are fast-
learners and adaptable to any situations.

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THANK YOU
Gryzl Valerie Maturan 09494144316

amethyzt577@[Link]

[Link]