Morphological Shifts in Digital Communication: A Comparative Analysis of Generation Z and Alpha Content Creators

Abstract

This study examined the morphological shifts present in the slang used by Generation Z and Generation Alpha content creators in digital communication. Employing a descriptive quantitative design supported by morphological word-formation theory and sociolinguistic concepts of language change, the corpora consisted of fifty (50) manually transcribed videos from ten (10) Filipino content creators across TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, representing five creators from each generation. Results revealed that both generations actively use slang as a marker of identity, creativity, and social belonging, with conversion emerging as the most dominant morphological process. Findings further showed that Generation Z frequently employed clipping and acronyms typical of text-based interaction, while Generation Alpha preferred compounding, coinage, and audiovisual-influenced expressions shaped by fast-paced meme and gaming culture. The study concludes that differences in slang formation reflect the technological environments that shaped each generation's communication style. Based on the findings, educators, linguists, and parents are recommended to incorporate awareness of digital language trends into instruction, and future research should expand to larger datasets and additional platforms to deepen understanding of generational language evolution.