SEMANTIC CHANGES OF ENGLISH WORDS IN THE DIGITAL ERA

Abstract

This study examines how the meanings of English words have changed under the influence of the digital era. With the rapid development of information technology, the Internet, and social media, language has undergone significant semantic transformations. Many English words have acquired new meanings, expanded their usage, or shifted their connotations due to the needs of digital communication. Words such as cloud, tweet, viral, and stream illustrate how technological progress reshapes linguistic structures and cultural understanding.

The research also explores the mechanisms of semantic change, including metaphorical extension, narrowing, broadening, and semantic shift caused by sociocultural innovation. The digital environment encourages the creation of new lexical items (neologisms) and the re-interpretation of existing ones, reflecting the dynamic interaction between language, technology, and society. The findings show that digital communication not only transforms the way people interact but also redefines how meaning is created, shared, and perceived in modern English.