LITERAL AND DENOTATIVE MEANING OF ENGLISH SLAG IN TIKTOK TRENDS AMONG GEN Z

Abstrak

Language continues to evolve dynamically in the digital era, particularly through
social media platforms that facilitate creativity and identity expression. This study
investigates the semantic dimensions of English slang used by Generation Z on
TikTok, focusing on the relationship between literal and denotative meanings.
Using a qualitative descriptive method, data were collected from TikTok videos
uploaded between 2023 and 2025 that contained English slang expressions
frequently used in online communication. Thirty slang words such as rizz, no cap,
slay, tea, and vibe were analyzed through semantic comparison and contextual
interpretation. The findings reveal significant semantic shifts including
broadening, metaphorical extension, and innovation, demonstrating how Gen Z
reconstructs meaning to express emotion, humor, and social belonging. Slang on
TikTok functions not only as linguistic creativity but also as a socio-cultural code
that reflects self-presentation, digital identity, and community solidarity. These
findings align with recent linguistic theories emphasizing language as a social
semiotic system and support contemporary research (Keidar et al., 2022;
Nurhayati & Putri, 2024; Syafaah & Haryanto, 2024) that highlights the
participatory nature of online language change. Overall, the study contributes to
understanding how English slang evolves in digital environments and how
Generation Z shapes modern linguistic innovation through social media
interaction.
Keywords: Slang, TikTok, Generation Z, Literal, Denotative