PRAGMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF INTENSIFIERS IN YOUTH SPEECH

Abstract

This paper examines the pragmatic function of intensifiers within contemporary youth discourse, moving beyond their traditional role as mere degree modifiers. It explores how young speakers apply these linguistic elements to negotiate social identity, project subjectivity, and enhance the emotional intensity of their interactions. By analyzing both spoken and digital language patterns, the research highlights how youth serve as catalysts for linguistic evolution, continuously adapting intensifiers to meet the expressive demands of peer-group communication. The findings suggest that the usage of intensifiers is driven by social context, group affiliation, and a pursuit of lexical creativity. Ultimately, this paper underlines the role of intensifiers as essential pragmatic tools that reflect the dynamic, creative adolescent communication in the modern digital age.