The Internet Language of Uzbekistan: Between Tradition and Innovation

Abstract

The article analyses the characteristics of internet discourse in Uzbekistan in the context of digital transformation. Uzbek internet language is considered a hybrid system combining traditional linguistic norms and innovative digital practices. Particular attention is paid to the phenomena of code-switching, multimodality, and visualisation of communication. Using material from social networks (Instagram, Telegram, YouTube), the article shows how language mixing, the use of emojis, and graphic symbols change the structure of written speech and reflect the socio-cultural processes of modern Uzbekistan. In the context of rapid digital development, language is taking on new forms that reflect transformations in public consciousness and communication. Uzbekistan, located at the crossroads of cultures and languages, demonstrates a unique model of Internet language evolution, in which traditional norms and innovative trends collide. Internet discourse is shaped by multilingualism, youth subculture and cross-border communication, leading to the emergence of hybrid lexical and syntactic constructions. A distinctive feature of Internet communication in Uzbekistan is the parallel use of Uzbek, Russian and English, as well as the active introduction of the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets in a single text stream. According to research by the Institute of Language and Literature of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan (2022), more than 60% of social media users regularly mix languages in a single message, creating the phenomenon of code-switching, which is becoming common practice in online communication.