ENGLISH LOANWORDS IN DIGITAL COMMUNICATION: A STUDY OF COMPUTER TERMINOLOGY AMONG MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS
Abstract
This study examines the use of English loanwords in computer- and technology-related communication among multilingual students. It focuses on how English technological terms are adopted and integrated into everyday language use across academic, home, and digital environments. The research employs a mixed-methods approach and involves 20 students who identified commonly used English terms related to hardware, software, networking, programming, security, and social media. The analysis reveals stable patterns of lexical borrowing and shows that English terminology is deeply embedded in students’ daily communication. These loanwords enhance clarity, simplify complex concepts, and reduce the need for translation, thereby improving communication in technology-oriented contexts. The study also highlights the strong influence of English as the global language of technology. However, it notes that increasing reliance on borrowed terms may contribute to the decline of native technical vocabulary. Overall, the research outlines both the practical benefits and linguistic implications of widespread lexical borrowing.
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