SARCASTIC LANGUAGE STYLE AND NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS IN THE X PLATFORM COMMUNITY 'KOMUNITAS MARAH MARAH'

Abstract

Twitter, as one of the microblogging social media platforms, provides a unique digital public space for the formation of various online communities with different communication characteristics. One community that has attracted attention is the "KOMUNITAS MARAH MARAH" known for its distinctive communication style, namely the use of language laden with sarcasm and negative connotations. This community not only serves as a platform for expressing negative emotions such as anger, frustration, and disappointment but also as a space for constructing social identity and solidarity among members through intense digital interactions. This study aims to examine in depth how sarcastic language and negative connotations are used as communication strategies within this community. More than just an outlet for emotions, the use of this style of language serves as an effective rhetorical tool for conveying implicit social criticism and building social bonds through language. The method used is qualitative with a critical discourse analysis approach, where data is collected from 100 tweets selected purposively based on hashtags and accounts that actively use sarcastic language and negative connotations. The analysis results show that sarcasm and negative connotations function as a cathartic mechanism that allows community members to express their dissatisfaction creatively and humorously. Additionally, the use of this language style strengthens the collective identity of the community by fostering a sense of togetherness in facing various social and psychological pressures. This study also highlights the role of Twitter algorithms in promoting the virality of emotional content, thereby spreading this negative communication style and making it a characteristic of the community. These findings provide an important new perspective on the complex dynamics of digital communication in the social media era, where language is not only a tool for communication but also a medium for the formation of identity and social solidarity. This study is expected to serve as a reference in digital linguistics research and open opportunities for further research on the social and psychological impacts of sarcastic and negative expressions in online communities.

Keywords: sarcasm, negative connotations, Twitter, digital communities, critical discourse analysis.