Millennial Language and Its Implications to Standard English

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Millennial language refers to the words and expressions used in a conversation adapted and invented through the use of social media. These words and expressions are used across discourse communities (home, school, friendship and church), which become part of the way people communicate especially in the use of Standard English. The millennial learners in the Philippines have created new words and expressions that need awareness to promote universal understanding among its users. This study identified the commonly used millennial words and expressions by the Filipino learners across the different discourse communities and analyzed its implications to the use of Standard English.

METHODS

This qualitative research that used validated survey questionnaires determined the commonly used words and expressions by the millennial learners across discourse communities and its implications to the use of Standard English. Focus group discussion and a series of unobtrusive observations from the different discourse communities were conducted to identify how millennial words and expressions influence the way they communicate and use the Standard English in a conversation.

RESULTS

Words and expressions that are recently invented are always used wherever people go. The words that create an impact to the society are the words that people commonly speak. The identified commonly used millennial words and expressions by the Filipino learners entailed that different discourse communities are also influenced by the social media trends specifically in the formation of new vocabularies used in a conversation. These new formations on the way people speak have implications to Standard English on reading and listening comprehension, speaking, writing and vocabulary.

DISCUSSIONS

Several millennial words and expressions were identified across discourse communities. Learners perceived that millennial words and expressions can contribute in learning the English language especially in making connections for comprehension. This study did not focus on grammar and its effects to behavior that others may delve on. These millennial words and expressions can help students contextualize their expressions in the classroom setting through creating lesson exemplars that incorporate millennial words and expressions. Thus, a dictionary containing the commonly used millennial words and expressions might help the learners to understand its definition and usage.