Semantic Choices and Patterns in YouTube Commentaries as Digital Language Variation

English Department, Faculty of Humanities, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: olivia.azhari@binus.ac.id

Abstract

Various forms of language use in social media characterize digital culture as part of digital humanities. It is fundamental to be able to get some knowledge of knowing the behavior of people using digital platforms, because nowadays people communicate via digital. Digital communication is a valid text that does not happen suddenly because it can be considered as something that is passive. This paper is important so that the reader can get knowledge about choices and patterns in digital communication. This paper investigated the variety of digital language as social phenomenon in YouTube commentaries. The goals of such investigation were to reveal the semantic choices and the pattern of these choices as online communicative events. Applying qualitative and diachronic approach the research used YouTube comments on a YouTube channel discussing about family vacation throughout 3 years of period, from 2019-2022. Using Halliday’s theory about semantic choice, the paper revealed three groups of semantic choices, which were semantic choice for identifying logical fallacy, semantic choice for identifying statement of feeling and semantic choice for identifying ridiculous behavior. There is also a recurring pattern that can be identified following the results of the analysis. In conclusion, digital language could be used in comparison to in person communication as important and valid development of language in digital humanities.