LANGUAGE USAGE PATTERNS IN ROLE-PLAYING COMMUNITIES: A LINGUISTIC EXAMINATION

Abstract

This research deals with language usage patterns in X (Formerly Twitter)-based role-playing communities, focusing on how role-players construct their linguistic identities and adapt to platform-specific constraints. The problem in this research arises from the lack of studies on how social media platforms influence linguistic behavior in digital role-playing spaces. While previous research has explored online identity construction, few have examined how role-players navigate multilingual interactions and adapt to X’s (Formerly Twitter) limitations, such as the 280-character limit and threaded conversations. The aim of this research is to analyze language usage patterns in role-playing communities and investigate the role of platform-specific features in shaping linguistic adaptation. The study was conducted in the ssefnum (@munvess) X (Formerly Twitter) role-playing community, with data collected over a one-month period (12 November 2024 – 12 December 2024). The source of data includes 1875 tweets and 15 participant interviews. The techniques for collecting data involve corpus-based tweet analysis and structured Google Forms interviews. The tweets were analyzed using discourse analysis to identify recurring linguistic patterns, while interview responses were categorized through thematic analysis to explore participant motivations behind their language choices. The findings reveal that role-players exhibit structured linguistic conventions, including code-switching, abbreviations, and action markers to enhance engagement. 67% of participants engaged in bilingual code-switching, alternating between English and Indonesian for emphasis and immersion. Additionally, X (Formerly Twitter)’s constraints influenced language adaptation, leading to the use of abbreviations, omitted grammatical structures, and threaded storytelling. This study contributes to sociolinguistics and digital communication by offering insights into how online communities develop linguistic norms and adapt to technological limitations.