WAKAMONO KOTOBA USED BY JAPANESE YOUTH ON INSTAGRAM

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the forms of wakamono kotoba, or Japanese youth language. As
wakamono kotoba continues to develop in Japanese, it is frequently found on social media platforms
such as Instagram. Its deviation from standard Japanese can become a problem in understanding its
meanings. The data were collected from the Instagram accounts using the observation method and
note-taking techniques. The data were analyzed using the identity method and distributional
techniques. The forms of wakamono kotoba were examined based on the word formation theory
proposed by Tsujimura (1996) and Kageyama (2016). The results indicate that wakamono kotoba
can be classified into five morphological forms, namely affixation, compounding, reduplication,
clipping, and borrowing. This study hopes to contribute to the understanding of Japanese language
variation, particularly in digital communication, and provides insights into the morphological
processes in forming Japanese youth language. Based on the results, there are seven forms of
wakamono kotoba found, including affixation, compound, reduplication, clipping, borrowing,
phonological change, and dialect variation. Wakamono kotoba reflects the creativity and linguistic
dynamism of Japanese youth through innovative expressions that enhance emotional intensity,
expressiveness, evaluative meaning, and informal communication.