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The Ethnology Notebooks. 2025. № 5 (185), 1299—1307

UDK811.111:81’37:004.42

THE LANGUAGE OF ENGLISH SOCIAL NETWORKS: NEOLOGISMS, SLANG, GRAPHIC ABBREVIATIONS

ZAITSEVA Kateryna

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7171-4826
  • Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences,
  • Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology 
  • and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages,
  • South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky
  • Contacts: 26, Staroportofrankivska St., 65020, Odesa, Ukraine

VELYKA Alina

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0747-1932
  • Senior lecturer of the Department of the Slavic 
  • and the Germanic Philology and Translation,
  • Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University,
  • Contacts: 40 Velyka Berdychivska St., 10008, Zhytomyr, Ukraine

BIRIUKOVA Diana

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1721-0122
  • Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor,
  • Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Philology, 
  • Translation and Professional Language Training,
  • University of Customs and Finance,
  • Contacts: 2/4 Volodymyr Vernadsky St., 49000, Dnipro, Ukraine

Abstract. Introduction. Modern English is rapidly evolving under the influence of digital communication. Social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter promote linguistic innovation through new words, abbreviations, and stylistic devices. Problem Statement. Although neologisms in English have been widely studied, research on their use in social networks remains limited. Purpose. This study analyzes neologisms, slang, and graphic abbreviations in English social networks, examining their sources, formation, and communicative functions. Methods. Descriptive, comparative, and quantitative analyses were used to record examples from social media and determine usage frequency and differences from traditional language.Conclusions. English social networks are major sources of lexical innovation. Neologisms often arise through compounding, clipping, and conversion; slang adds expressiveness; and graphic abbreviations enhance communication efficiency. Many new units quickly move from online to general usage.

Keywords: English language, social networks, neologisms, slang, graphic abbreviations, digital communication, word formation.

Received 25.09.2025

REFERENCES

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  • Instagram — post/reel with #TBT (Throwback Thursday). Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMyVbhFN6k-/.
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