Abbreviations as Cultural Signs in the Communication of Indonesia’s Digital Generation

Abstract

This study examines abbreviations as cultural signs in digital communication among Indonesia's digital generation. In contemporary online interaction, abbreviations are used not only to improve communication efficiency but also to express social identity and group affiliation. Drawing on Ferdinand de Saussure's concept of the linguistic sign and Charles Sanders Peirce's classification of signs, this study investigates how abbreviations function as semiotic resources in Indonesia's multilingual digital environment. Using a qualitative literature review approach following Creswell (2018), the study analyzes scholarly works on digital communication, internet language, and abbreviation practices. The findings indicate that abbreviations are socially constructed signs shaped by shared cultural knowledge, technological affordances, and online communication practices. Pragmatically, they facilitate efficient communication; cognitively, they reduce processing demands; and socially, they signal informality, solidarity, and membership within digital communities. Rather than reflecting language deterioration, abbreviations demonstrate linguistic innovation and adaptation to evolving digital communication. The study concludes that abbreviations play a significant role in shaping contemporary linguistic behavior in Indonesia while illustrating the dynamic interaction between language, culture, and technology in the digital era.