Reinterpretation And Stylistic Activation Of Expressions In The Digital Environment

Abstract

The study substantiates the reinterpretation of expressions in the internet context, namely their metaphorization, semantic extension and narrowing, pragmatic shift, code-mixing (English-Uzbek hybrid forms), as well as the formation of new layers of meaning under the influence of slang and language play. It also demonstrates that multimodal contexts (memes, GIFs, emojis) and contextual intertextuality (references to films, songs, and popular content) expand the semantic scope of expressions and enhance their pragmatic impact in discourse. As illustrative examples, internet-specific expressions such as “tarmoqni portlatdi” (went viral), “like bosmoq” (to like), “kommentlarda o‘t oldi” (sparked heated debate in the comments), “postda portlamoq” (to blow up in a post), “trollarga yem bo‘lmoq” (to become food for trolls), and “trendga chiqmoq” (to trend) are analyzed, with attention to their denotative and connotative meanings and communicative functions. As a result, the digital environment is concluded to be a significant factor that expands the stylistic potential of expressions and shapes new phraseological units and semantic-pragmatic tendencies in contemporary Uzbek.