Construction of Gen Z Linguistic Identity in English-Language TikTok Content
Keywords:
Keyword: Linguistic identity, Generation Z, Tik Tok, English language use, code-switching, digital communication, qualitative descriptive methodAbstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the ways in which Generation Z and specifically junior high school (SMP) students form their linguistic identity via the usage of English in the contents posted on Tik Tok. This research employs qualitative descriptive methods and considers language as a social practice in digital communication. The empirical data was obtained from Tik Tok videos featuring some elements of English usage such as speech, caption, hashtag, and comments. Data sampling involved the use of purposive sampling, which allowed selecting samples demonstrating linguistic creativity in the form of slang terms, abbreviations, code switching, and hybrid languages. Consequently, it can be concluded that English in the Tik Tok videos is utilized not only to communicate but also serves as a way to construct one’s identity, convey personal message and create a feeling of community within certain linguistic group. In the current era of globalization, students integrate their native and English language into speech, and Tik Tok plays a significant role in facilitating this process.
Downloads
References
Androutsopoulos, J. (2015). Networked multilingualism: Some language practices on Facebook and their implications. https://doi.org/10.1515/multi-2014-0078
Bucholtz, M., & Hall, K. (2005). Identity and interaction: A sociocultural linguistic approach. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404505050017
Tagg, C., Seargeant, P., & Brown, A. (2017). Taking offence on social media: Conviviality and communication on Facebook. https://doi.org/10.1515/jelf-2017-0007
Varis, P., & Wang, X. (2011). Superdiversity on the internet: A case from China. https://doi.org/10.1515/mult.2011.017
Zulli, D., & Zulli, D. J. (2022). Extending the Internet meme: Conceptualizing technological mimesis and imitation publics on TikTok. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051221086262
Kaye, D. B. V., Chen, X., & Zeng, J. (2021). The co-evolution of two Chinese mobile short video apps: Parallel platformization of Douyin and TikTok. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2020.1764840
Abidin, C. (2021). Mapping internet celebrity on TikTok: Exploring attention economies and visibility. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051211069085
Pennycook, A. (2018). Posthumanist applied linguistics. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315457573
Gee, J. P. (2011). An introduction to discourse analysis: Theory and method. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203847885
Crystal, D. (2006). Language and the Internet (2nd ed.).https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511487001
Tagliamonte, S. A., & Denis, D. (2008). Linguistic ruin? LOL! Instant messaging and teen language. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9841.2008.00365.x
Seargeant, P., & Tagg, C. (2014). The language of social media: Identity and community on the internet. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137029316
Page, R., Barton, D., Unger, J. W., & Zappavigna, M. (2014). Researching language and social media. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315771785
Blommaert, J. (2010). The sociolinguistics of globalization. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511845306
Leppänen, S., & Häkkinen, A. (2012). Buffalaxing the other: Superdiversity in YouTube practices. https://doi.org/10.1515/multi-2012-0012
Francis, T., & Hoefel, F. (2018). ‘True Gen’: Generation Z and its implications for companies. McKinsey & Company. Mckinsey.com
Poplack, S. (1980). Sometimes I’ll start a sentence in Spanish y termino en español: Toward a typology of code-switching. Linguistics, 18(7–8), 581–618. https://doi.org/10.1515/ling.1980.18.7-8.581
Georgakopoulou, A., & Spilioti, T. (Eds.). (2015). The Routledge Handbook of Language and Digital Communication. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315694344
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Fitri Amelia Hasibana, Syamsul Ma’arif , Muhammad Ridwan Gozali , Alwi Dafianza , Muhammad Hasyimsah Batubara (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
