LEXICO-SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF SOME SELECTED GEN Z EXPRESSIONS

Abstract

This paper investigates the lexical and semantic characteristics of selected Gen Z expressions as used in contemporary digital and face-to-face communication. Drawing from samples collected across social media platforms (TikTok, X, Instagram) and in-person interactions, the study examines some selected widely used expressions by Generation Z. Using the sociolinguistics Theory of Youth Language Innovation which sees linguistic creativity not as a decline in standards but as a natural site of language evolution, deeply tied to social identity, technological change, and cultural expression. More so, a lexico-semantic framework was used in the analysis of data. It considers the forms, meanings, and semantic shifts of each expression. It can be concluded that these expressions demonstrate language change in progress, shaped by technological mediation and cultural hybridity.