HOW TECHNOLOGY INFLUENCES SEMANTIC CHANGE: CASE STUDIES FROM DIGITAL VOCABULARY

Abstract

The rapid development of digital technologies has become one of the most influential factors reshaping modern language, particularly at the semantic level. Unlike traditional semantic change, which evolves gradually through historical stages, technology-driven semantic shifts emerge rapidly within digital communication environments. This article examines how technology influences semantic change by analyzing selected case studies from digital vocabulary, specifically the terms cloud, feed, and meme. Drawing on cognitive semantics, historical linguistics, and usage-based theory, the study employs corpus-based statistical evidence from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), the NOW Corpus, and Google Books Ngram Viewer to trace frequency patterns and meaning shifts. The findings reveal that metaphorical extension, semantic broadening, narrowing, and pragmatic recontextualization are the dominant mechanisms shaping digital lexical semantics. The study demonstrates that technological communication functions as a powerful catalyst for accelerated semantic change, providing new insights into the interaction between language, cognition, and digital culture.