YOUTH LANGUAGE AND CONTEMPORARY SPEECH CULTURE: SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

This article examines the linguistic behavior and speech culture of contemporary youth within a rapidly changing linguistic environment influenced by social, cultural, and digital factors. Today’s youth language is characterized by frequent use of slang, jargon, hybrid constructions, and calques, reflecting a widening gap between literary language norms and everyday communication. Drawing on both classical and contemporary linguistic theories, the study addresses the weakening of literary standards and the decline of expressive vocabulary. The empirical part of the research is based on an anonymous survey of 120 respondents aged 14–22 from ABYROI School in Oral city. The findings indicate that 63% of participants regularly use slang, 41% often rely on calques, and although 74% recognize the importance of literary language, they rarely apply it consistently. This reveals a contradiction between linguistic awareness and actual speech practices. The article concludes that improving youth speech culture requires systematic measures, including expanding literary vocabulary, enhancing the quality of media language, encouraging reading of classical literature, strengthening the family language environment, and regularly monitoring students’ speech practices.