A Morphological Analysis of Abbreviated Neologisms of Social Media Discourses: A Case of Kenyans on X

Abstract

In recent years, the rise of social media platforms has dramatically transformed communication patterns and language use across the globe. Among these platforms, X (formerly known as Twitter) stands out as one of the most influential, having witnessed the emergence and widespread adoption of abbreviated neologisms. This paper presents the morphological analysis of abbreviated neologisms used by Kenyans on X. The objective was to analyse these abbreviated neologisms within social media discourses using the natural morphology framework (NMT) propounded by Dressler (1985). NMT is a functionalist theory that accounts for morphological preferences based on extra-linguistic motivations. Data for the study was purposively collected from Kenyans on X. The abbreviated neologisms were identified, and their meanings were determined through contextual analysis. The data was then classified based on the morphological structure of the neologisms, including the type of abbreviation, the source words or roots, and other morphemes. This provided insights on the interaction between technology and the morphological evolution of language as evidenced by the use of abbreviated neologisms by KOX. The findings reveal significant insights into the morphological features of abbreviated neologisms, shedding light on the innovative linguistic practices employed by Kenyan X users. The study highlights the role of social media platforms in language evolution, demonstrating how technology influences word formation processes. These findings underscore the broader understanding of language variation and change facilitated by social media platforms. The abbreviated neologisms are formed through initialisms, clipping, and contraction.