From acronyms to intimacy: Slang as a Sociolinguistic Bridge in Youth Interactions in Manokwari, Papua.

Amalia Lakehu; Yafed   Syufi; Novita Angelie   Taroreh; Sri   Ningsih

doi:10.31849/v4m2wy09

Authors

Amalia Lakehu Universitas Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia.
Yafed Syufi Universitas Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia.
Novita Angelie Taroreh Universitas Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia.
Sri Ningsih Akademi Kebidanan Tahirah Al Baeti Bulukumba, Indonesia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31849/v4m2wy09

Keywords:

Papua Malay slang , Sociolinguistics, Youth language, Word formation, Bilingual communication

Abstract

Slang is not merely informal vocabulary but a powerful sociolinguistic resource through which youth negotiate identity, intimacy, and belonging in multilingual settings. This study investigates Papuan Malay slang as a sociolinguistic bridge among adolescents in Manokwari, West Papua, addressing a critical gap in region-specific research that has largely overlooked Eastern Indonesia’s localized linguistic dynamics. Employing a descriptive qualitative design, data were collected from 60 university students through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation, yielding 244 slang items categorized into Papuan Malay Original Slang and Borrowed Dialect or Language Slang. The findings reveal that slang formation is systematic and creative, predominantly shaped by acronym formation, blending, clipping, borrowing, and word modification. Results further show that local slang remains slightly dominant, reflecting strong community-based identity, while borrowed forms signal engagement with broader digital and global youth culture. Slang circulates through a dual pathway: media-driven exposure for borrowed forms and peer interaction for local expressions. Functionally, slang facilitates communicative ease, humor, intimacy, and selective in-group exclusivity. These findings demonstrate that youth language in Manokwari is not a passive reflection of external influence but an active site of linguistic agency where local and global resources are negotiated. This study contributes to sociolinguistic theory by foregrounding slang as a dynamic bridge across linguistic scales and highlights its role in sustaining cultural identity within globalization. It also offers practical implications for language education and policy, advocating a balanced perspective that recognizes slang as a complementary communicative resource alongside formal language competence.

Author Biographies

Amalia Lakehu, Universitas Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia.

Amalia Lakehu is a senior lecturer in the Department of English Education at the University of Papua, Manokwari (ORCID: 0000-0002-8091-1140; SINTA ID: 6894539). She earned her Ph.D. in Education and M.Ed. in TESOL from the University of South Australia, an MBA in Education Management from the University of Leicester, and a B.A. from Universitas Cenderawasih Jayapura. Her research focuses on TESOL and TEFL methodologies, digital technological awareness among Indonesian EFL preservice teachers, innovative curriculum development, and culturally responsive language pedagogy.
Yafed Syufi , Universitas Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia.

Yafed Syufi is a senior lecturer in the Department of Indonesian Literature at Universitas Papua, Manokwari (ORCID: 0009-0004-2214-3691; SINTA ID: 6784617). He holds degrees in Indonesian Literature, Linguistics, and a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics. His scholarly expertise lies in ecolinguistics, examining the relationship between language and the environment, including studies on sago lexicons in Irrires, verb systems in Miyah, and linguistic patterns within Mpur and Irrires communities.
Novita Angelie Taroreh, Universitas Papua, Manokwari, Indonesia.

Novita Angelie Taroreh is a lecturer in the Department of English Literature at the University of Papua, Manokwari (ORCID: 0000-0006-3294-8105). She earned her master’s degree in Translation Studies from the Australian National University and her bachelor’s degree from Hasanuddin University, Makassar. Her research focuses on translation methodologies, encompassing linguistic, cultural, and historical dimensions as well as practical domains such as literary, technical, and audiovisual translation.
Sri Ningsih, Akademi Kebidanan Tahirah Al Baeti Bulukumba, Indonesia.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sri Ningsih, M.Hum is a Senior Lecturer at Akademi Kebidanan Tahirah Al Baeti Bulukumba, Indonesia. She earned her BA in English Literature, MA in English, and Ph.D. in Linguistics from Universitas Hasanuddin. Her scholarly work spans ethnolinguistics, sociolinguistics, and applied linguistics, with a focus on language maintenance, language choice, and identity in multilingual Indonesian contexts. She also explores technology enhanced learning, including the evaluation of interactive learning platforms and the use of artificial intelligence in English language education.

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