POLISH LANGUAGE IN THE DIGITAL SPHERE – MEMES, INTERNET SLANG, AND THEIR CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

The study analyzes internet memes and digital slang as contemporary forms of communication that have become a permanent element of online culture. The development of technology has enabled internet users to actively co-create content and new communicative practices. The theoretical foundations of the functioning of memes and slang, as well as their significance in youth culture, are discussed. Empirical research focuses on the ways these phenomena are interpreted and used by Polish internet users. The aim was to identify their cultural and communicative role in the processes of shaping contemporary identity. An attempt was made to confirm the thesis that internet memes constitute a contemporary, digital form of folklore, performing functions similar to traditional forms of folk culture–they comment on reality, preserve communal interpretative codes, create humorous narratives, and build social bonds, while also participating in social and political critique. It was also sought to demonstrate that Polish internet slang and memes have a significant impact on shaping contemporary youth identity, enabling the expression of emotions, opinions, group belonging, and generational communication, while maintaining local cultural specificity despite global trends on the internet. The results show that memes and slang are not only humor and linguistic shortcuts but also tools for building community and expressing attitudes.