FILIPINO COLLOQUIAL EXPRESSIONS: INFLUENCE OF DIGITAL LANGUAGE ON FORMAL WRITING SKILLS AMONG GRADE 11 HUMSS STUDENTS AT BESTLINK COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Abstract

The Filipino language has undergone significant evolution, particularly with the growing influence of the internet and digital communication. This study investigates how the use of Filipino colloquial expressions, especially those popularized online, affects the academic writing performance of senior high school students. It focuses on students' reliance on slang and informal language in their written outputs and examines its impact on vocabulary development, sentence structure, and overall writing proficiency. The study also aims to determine the language, formal or informal. that students are most comfortable using in both academic and casual contexts. Ultimately, it seeks to assess whether the widespread use of colloquial Filipino online contributes to the deterioration or enrichment of students’ writing skills. This study adopted a descriptive quantitative research design to examine the impact of Filipino colloquial language on students' academic writing skills. A total of 126 Grade 11 Humanities and Social Sciences students from Bestlink College of the Philippines, Novaliches, Quezon City, were selected using quota sampling. To obtain relevant data, the researchers administered a standardized questionnaire, which served as the primary instrument for gathering insights into the students’ language usage and its influence on their written outputs. The findings indicate that digital expressions play a significant role in shaping students' social interactions, with strong influence observed in communication, humor, and self-expression. Additionally, the use of digital language notably impacts formal writing skills, enhancing aspects such as vocabulary, creativity, and sentence construction among Grade 11 Humanities and Social Sciences students at Bestlink College of the Philippines. Despite these benefits, the study also highlights critical concerns, including reduced attention to grammatical accuracy, the excessive use of abbreviations, and a noticeable decline in vocabulary proficiency. This discussion encapsulates the key findings of the study, focusing on the respondents’ evaluation of the impact of digital expressions on social connectivity and the influence of informal digital language on the formal writing skills of Grade 11 Humanities and Social Sciences students at Bestlink College of the Philippines. The findings reveal that while digital language enhances communication, creativity, and self-expression, it also contributes to notable challenges such as diminished attention to grammar, excessive use of abbreviations, and a decline in vocabulary strength. The section also presents the researchers’ recommendations, which aim to mitigate these negative effects and promote the development of students’ academic writing skills.