The Language of the Internet: Memes, Emojis, and the Evolution of Communication on Social Media

Abstract

This article analyzes the linguistic and sociological impact of memes, emojis, and platform-specific jargon as essential tools of digital communication. We position the language of the Internet not as a deviation from, but as a dynamic and complementary system to, traditional language, driven by the need for speed, emotional expression, and cultural self-identification. The core argument is that modern digital discourse is becoming increasingly multimodal, contextual, and visual, relying on digital paralanguage (emojis) and cultural text (memes) to convey complex meanings efficiently. The philological, semiotic, and educational consequences of these new linguistic forms are discussed.