Semantic shifts in the Arabic language through social media: An analytical study in the lexicon of modern terms

Abstract

This study aims to monitor and analyze the phenomenon

of "semantic shift" in contemporary Arabic resulting from

daily interaction via social media platforms. The primary objective is to track how words transform from their traditional lexical fields—as documented in modern dictionaries—into new digital and terminological meanings imposed by the new media environment. Utilizing a descriptive-analytical approach supported by pragmatic tools, the research compares a sample of commonly used digital and social terms with their original lexicographical contexts. The study reveals that cyberspace has become a fast-moving linguistic laboratory that accelerates the generalization and specialization of word meanings through metaphor and technological borrowing. The research recommends the continuous update of Arabic lexicography to accommodate living linguistic evolutions, ensuring that the gap between formal lexical documentation and daily usage is effectively bridged. Keywords: Semantic Shift; Social Media; Modern Arabic .Dictionary; Sociolinguistics; Digital Language. Keywords: Semantic change; social media; modern vocabulary; sociolinguistics; digital language