COMPLIMENTS IN TIKTOK COMMENT COLUMNS A SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDY

Abstract

This study examines compliment expressions in TikTok comment sections through a sociolinguistic lens. The research is grounded in the understanding that social media functions not only as a communication platform but also as a space where users express social, emotional, and religious identities. The purpose of this study is to describe the forms and functions of compliments used by TikTok users and to reveal the social values represented in these expressions. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, utilizing observation and note-taking techniques for data collection, and the referential method to analyze linguistic forms based on their social context. The data consist of compliment utterances extracted from the comment sections of four Indonesian TikTok creators. The findings reveal three main forms of compliments: First, compliments with intensifiers such as truly, so much, beautiful, and fragrant, which emphasize admiration for physical appearance or positive traits. Second, compliments with religious expressions such as Tabarakallah, Masya Allah, and Alhamdulillah, which highlight spiritual values, politeness, and religious identity. Third, compliments combining intensifiers and religious expressions, such as Subhanallah so much and MashaAllah always, which merge emotional intensity with religious meaning. Functionally, the compliments fall into two categories complimen on physical appearance and compliments on personality. The study concludes that compliments on TikTok function as social discourse that reflects linguistic creativity, politeness strategies, and the moral and religious identities of digital communities. These findings contribute to the development of digital sociolinguitstic studies, particularly regarding language use in social media interaction.