The Next Normal Terminologies in Malaysia: Morphological Landscape in the Future of Work

Abstract

This paper analysed the Morphological Landscape in the perceptibility and prominence of word formation on commercial and public signs in the digital platforms during the next normal in Malaysia. The surge of new terminologies accompanying the next normal created new lexical and sociolinguistic changes that have become part of our lives. It can’t be denied that many Malaysians are having problems understanding the new terms used in digital platforms during the pandemic. If someone occasionally struggles to understand the terms and their importance, they are not alone, a quote from a daily newspaper. This study aimed to 1) record new terminologies of the future of work in Malaysia and 2) analyse the headedness of compounds and blends to determine their meaning. It can be hard to keep up with the next normal terminology used in media reports and official statements about employment and employability, such as acronym (WFH), blend (workcation work + vacation), compound (remote work) and an alphabet-and-numbers blend of virus (COVID-19). The researchers used a descriptive qualitative approach to gather samples from various digital platforms (online advertisements) to identify new terminologies and adapted Yule’s and Lieber’s theoretical frameworks to analyse the concepts morphologically. It also identified compounding contributed to the rise of these new terminologies. The analysis revealed that new terms are coined from word-formation processes of acronyms, blending, compounding, and multiple processes.This study will educate the public about the new terminologies of the next normal in the future of work in Malaysia. regarding its meanings and function in daily life.