Main Article Content
Abstract
In the dynamic landscape of digital communication, bilingual expression has become an essential tool for online identity construction, especially among content creators in the gaming community. Despite increasing interest in social media discourse, limited attention has been paid to the linguistic strategies used by Indonesian game streamers on social media platforms. This study aims to explore the use of code mixing and language play in shaping digital personas through the public posts of three popular Indonesian streamers on Threads. Using a qualitative method, 90 purposively selected posts were analysed to identify code-mixing types, communicative functions, and creative language patterns. The study found that insertion and alternation were the most frequent code-mixing strategies, used to express emotion, share information, and maintain social connection. Each streamer demonstrated distinct language play styles, ranging from humorous exaggeration to brand-oriented clarity. These linguistic choices contribute to authenticity, audience engagement, and identity signalling. The study underscores how bilingual creativity operates as a social and aesthetic practice in digital youth culture.
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Article Details
References
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- Cook, G. (2000). Language play, language learning. Oxford University Press.
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- Crystal, D. (1998). Language play. Penguin Books.
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- Mewengkang, C., & Fansury, A. H. (2021). Writing daily status on social media: Code-mixing and code-switching phenomena. Klasikal: Journal of Education, Language Teaching and Science, 3(3), 144–152. https://doi.org/10.52208/klasikal.v3i3.110
- Muysken, P. (2000). Bilingual speech: A typology of code-mixing. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022226703272297
- Nordin, N. R. M. (2023). Code-switching and code-mixing among users of social media. Jurnal Javanologi, 6(2), 155–168. https://doi.org/10.20961/javanologi.v6i2.75114
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- Printsipalova, A. (2024). Pragmatic aspects of the use of English slang in internet communication (on the example of video games). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4659800
- Rahma, A. (2023). Code mixing and switching in Twitter communication: A case study of @KuntoAjiW. Jurnal Bahasa Dan Media, 15(1), 55–66. https://doi.org/10.38035/rrj.v5i2.402
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- Sintia, D. A., Alyani, E., Saepudin, N. C., Putri, R. A., & Nargis, N. (2025). A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Code Mixing Usage among Generation Z at Muhammadiyah University of Tangerang. Variable Research Journal, 2(01), 154–168. https://variablejournal.my.id/index.php/VRJ/article/view/174
- Susanti, R., Haryanto, H., Pranawukir, I., Safar, M., & Tjahyadi, I. (2024). The use of code-mixing and code-switching: Challenge identification in language online mass media. IJOLTL (Indonesian Journal of Language Teaching and Linguistics), 9(1), 32–43. https://doi.org/10.30957/ijoltl.v9i1.773
- Tagg, C. (2015). Exploring digital communication: Language in action. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315727165
- Turner, D. P. (2020). Sampling methods in research design. Headache, 60(1), 8–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/head.13707
- Wardhaugh, R. (1986). An introduction to sociolinguistics. Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404507210140
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References
Ahmad, S., Johora, F., & Alif, A. A. T. (2024). Crossing the boundaries of languages: Code-switching and code-mixing tendencies in the young generation in Bangladesh. Canadian Journal of Language and Literature Studies, 4(2), 10–31. https://doi.org/10.53103/cjlls.v4i2.152
Appel, R., & Muysken, P. (1987). Language contact and bilingualism. Edward Arnold. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500014573
Barman, U., Das, A., Wagner, J., & Foster, J. (2014). Code mixing: A challenge for language identification in the language of social media. Proceedings of the First Workshop on Computational Approaches to Code Switching, 13–23. https://doi.org/10.3115/v1/W14-3902
Bengtsson, M. (2016). How to plan and perform a qualitative study using content analysis. NursingPlus Open, 2, 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.npls.2016.01.001
Bouvier, G., & Rasmussen, J. (2022). Qualitative research using social media. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429319334
Bucholtz, M., & Hall, K. (2005). Identity and interaction: A sociocultural linguistic approach. Discourse Studies, 7(4–5), 585–614. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461445605054407
Cook, G. (2000). Language play, language learning. Oxford University Press.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Desain penelitian: Pendekatan kualitatif, kuantitatif, dan metode campuran. Sage.
Crystal, D. (1998). Language play. Penguin Books.
Fadli, M. R. (2021). Memahami desain metode penelitian kualitatif. Humanika: Kajian Ilmiah Mata Kuliah Umum, 21(1), 33–54. https://doi.org/10.21831/hum.v21i1.38075
Ferguson, C. A., & Macken, M. A. (1983). Language play and language acquisition. In K. E. Nelson (Ed.), Children’s language: Volume 4 (pp. 209–223). Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315802664
Fitriani, A., & Ramadhani, D. N. (2022). Code Mixing as a Communication Style Among South Jakarta Teenagers in Social Media. Palakka: Media and Islamic Communication, 3(1), 13–22. https://doi.org/10.30863/palakka.v3i1.2458
Gee, J. P. (2014). An introduction to discourse analysis: Theory and method (4th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315819679
Goffman, E. (2002). The presentation of self in everyday life. 1959. Garden City, NY. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=I_x-pc2SJX0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA46&dq=The+presentation+of+self+in+eeryday+life&ots=_Adk_od2Yx&sig=FEYVaDhLLwg9RQ8FK9Dm1MDRKSQ
Hidayanto, S. (2020). Eksistensi video game streaming dalam industri gaming Indonesia. Jurnal Studi Komunikasi, 4(2), 485–502. https://doi.org/10.25139/jsk.v4i2.1995
Ibrahim, N., & Qura, U. (2021). Speech acts used by a gaming YouTuber in an online game video. Retorika: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Dan Pengajarannya, 14(2), 148–158. https://doi.org/10.26858/retorika.v14i2.18891
Isnarini, E., Khaeruman, & Muti’ah, E. (2025). Social Media Sociolinguistics: Patterns, Trends, And The Dynamics Of Digital Language. LINGUA: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Dan Pengajarannya, 21(2), 189–199. https://doi.org/10.30957/lingua.v21i2.1050
Kay, A. Y. A., Nitaisih, P. K., & Suarnajaya, I. W. (2022). The analysis of the uses of code switching and code mixing in social media among Facebookers. Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris Indonesia, 10(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.23887/jpbi.v10i1.849
Khairunnas, R., Pagua, J. A., Fitriya, G., & Ruldeviyani, Y. (2025). User sentiment dynamics in social media: A comparative analysis of X and Threads. IAES International Journal of Artificial Intelligence, 14(1), 447–456. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijai.v14.i1.pp447-456
Krishna, D. (2024). A study identifying code-mixing, code-switching and language attrition in social media comments. QUEST - A Peer Reviewed Research Journal, 2(1), 20–30. https://questjournal.in/index.php/quest/article/view/24
Lestari, D. W., & Ambarwati, R. (2024). Social network analysis: Understanding user behavior in Threads. Kontigensi: Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen, 12(1), 115–124. https://doi.org/10.56457/jimk.v12i1.505
Matta, C. (2024). The explanatory power of discourse analysis. Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 54(5). https://doi.org/10.1177/00483931241255229
Mewengkang, C., & Fansury, A. H. (2021). Writing daily status on social media: Code-mixing and code-switching phenomena. Klasikal: Journal of Education, Language Teaching and Science, 3(3), 144–152. https://doi.org/10.52208/klasikal.v3i3.110
Muysken, P. (2000). Bilingual speech: A typology of code-mixing. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022226703272297
Nordin, N. R. M. (2023). Code-switching and code-mixing among users of social media. Jurnal Javanologi, 6(2), 155–168. https://doi.org/10.20961/javanologi.v6i2.75114
Paltridge, B. (2012). Discourse analysis: An introduction (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350934290
Printsipalova, A. (2024). Pragmatic aspects of the use of English slang in internet communication (on the example of video games). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4659800
Rahma, A. (2023). Code mixing and switching in Twitter communication: A case study of @KuntoAjiW. Jurnal Bahasa Dan Media, 15(1), 55–66. https://doi.org/10.38035/rrj.v5i2.402
Rianto, S., & Juliarta, I. M. (2024). The impact of social media on language use among teenagers. Focus Journal Language Review, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.62795/fjlg.v2i2.297
Rustan, E., & Ajiegoena, A. M. (2023). Code-mixing and second language acquisition on social media by digital native Indonesian children. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1301.25
Sintia, D. A., Alyani, E., Saepudin, N. C., Putri, R. A., & Nargis, N. (2025). A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Code Mixing Usage among Generation Z at Muhammadiyah University of Tangerang. Variable Research Journal, 2(01), 154–168. https://variablejournal.my.id/index.php/VRJ/article/view/174
Susanti, R., Haryanto, H., Pranawukir, I., Safar, M., & Tjahyadi, I. (2024). The use of code-mixing and code-switching: Challenge identification in language online mass media. IJOLTL (Indonesian Journal of Language Teaching and Linguistics), 9(1), 32–43. https://doi.org/10.30957/ijoltl.v9i1.773
Tagg, C. (2015). Exploring digital communication: Language in action. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315727165
Turner, D. P. (2020). Sampling methods in research design. Headache, 60(1), 8–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/head.13707
Wardhaugh, R. (1986). An introduction to sociolinguistics. Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404507210140
Xu, Z., Xiang, M., & Pang, L. (2018). Study on the influence factors of college students’ loyalty in PUBG game. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 439, 32059. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/439/3/032059
Zhang, P., He, Y., Haq, E.-U., He, J., & Tyson, G. (2024). The emergence of Threads: The birth of a new social network. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2406.19277

