Linguistic Changes of the Kurdish Language on Social Media Platforms
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25130/Lang.10.1.P1.9Abstract
This research examines the transformations within the Kurdish language across social media platforms, focusing specifically on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Utilizing a descriptive-analytical approach and drawing upon sociolinguistic frameworks—such as linguistic diversity and code-switching—the study reveals that social media has fostered a new digital dialect termed "Digital Kurdish."
The findings indicate that 55% of vocabulary is abbreviated and 70% of messages contain emoji’s, leading to a decline in lexical expressive capacity and a neglect of grammatical rules. Furthermore, the widespread use of foreign loanwords, shorthand writing, and the mixing of scripts (Arabic and Latin) poses a significant challenge to the unity and stability of the standard language.
The study confirms that digitalization presents both opportunities and risks: while it revitalizes the language and bridges communication gaps between users, it simultaneously threatens cultural linguistic identity. Consequently, the research proposes the establishment of a "Soft Digital Standard" theory consisting of three levels: a unified foundational level for orthography and basic grammar; a flexible level to accommodate shorthand and emoji’s, and a technical support level integrated through Unicode fonts and AI-powered keyboards. This framework aims to preserve the Kurdish language within the digital sphere and facilitate its evolution into a global online medium.
Keywords: Kurdish Language, Social Media, Linguistic Change, Digital Kurdish, Standardization.
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