INTERNET TERMINOLOGY IN DIGITAL

Abstract

The rapid development of the Internet and digital technologies has considerably influenced contemporary English vocabulary and communication. Internet terminology represents one of the most dynamic lexical domains because new technologies, digital platforms, online services, and forms of communication continuously generate new words and meanings. This study examines Internet terminology in digital media from media-linguistic and linguopragmatic perspectives. Particular attention is given to the semantic, structural, functional, and pragmatic characteristics of Internet-related terms used in online newspapers, social media, websites, blogs, digital advertising, and other forms of digital communication. The analysis demonstrates that terms such as website, browser, hyperlink, hashtag, follower, influencer, livestream, streaming, upload, download, platform, algorithm, chatbot, and cybersecurity have moved beyond specialized technological discourse and become widely used in public communication. The study also identifies productive word-formation processes, including compounding, abbreviation, clipping, borrowing, and semantic extension. The findings show that Internet terminology performs not only a nominative function but also informative, persuasive, evaluative, expressive, and attention-attracting functions in digital media. The research confirms that digital media plays an important role in the popularization, semantic adaptation, and conventionalization of Internet terminology