The Socio-Pragmatics of Emotional Expression in Digital Slang
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21259479Keywords:
Digital slang, affective pragmatics, Gen Z, social gatekeeping, minimalistic signs, post-pandemic communicationAbstract
Modern digital landscapes have evolved from temporary pandemic-era fixes into permanent infrastructures that fundamentally recalibrate human interaction. This study investigates how Generation Z employs digital slang as a high-efficiency mechanism for affective pragmatics and social gatekeeping. The research utilized a combination of qualitative content analysis and interpretive phenomenological analysis to collect data from high-context ecosystems, including Threads, TikTok, and Discord (2024-2026). The results demonstrate that minimalistic signifiers function as semantic anchors, enabling people to communicate their complex emotional states through shared cultural knowledge while they achieve faster communication and lower digital fatigue. Critically, digital slang functions as a sociolinguistic filter that automatically excludes out-groups through its temporary nature and specific contextual requirements. The research develops a new meaning model enabling real-time intent reconstruction through continuous meaning flows beyond traditional lexical inventories. Ultimately, digital minimalism does not simplify language but re-engineers it to protect subcultural intimacy through linguistic friction.
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