RESEMANTIZATION OF ENGLISH LEXICAL UNITS IN INTERNETDISCOURSE: AN ANALYSIS OF MODERN USAGE

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the Internet and digital communication on the modern English lexical system, specifically focusing on the process by which existing lexical units acquire new meanings—a phenomenon known as resemantization. As a result of the development of digital technologies, social networks, and forms of online communication, many English lexical units are taking on new semantic and communicative functions alongside their traditional meanings. The study presents a comparative analysis of the meanings of terms such as *post*, *story*, *viral*, *follow*, *like*, and *cloud* within both traditional and digital discourse. It also explores the roles of processes such as semantic expansion, metaphorical transfer, and functional specialization in the formation of digital vocabulary. The findings indicate that Internet discourse serves as a significant communicative environment that accelerates semantic changes in the English language.