FORMATION OF TERMINOLOGICAL SYSTEMS IN DIGITAL COMMUNITIES: FROM FAN CULTURE TO FAN DISCOURSE

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive study of the processes of formation and functioning of terminological systems in digital communities based on fan discourse. The relevance of the study is determined by the rapid development of digital technologies and the expansion of online communication, which lead to the emergence of new types of terminological units formed outside institutionalized domains of knowledge and not fully consistent with classical approaches to terminology studies. Particular attention is paid to fan culture as a type of participatory communication within which new terms are actively produced and disseminated. The aim of the study is to identify the specific features of term formation in fan culture, analyze their structural and semantic characteristics, determine their communicative functions, and establish the role of digital platforms in the codification and dissemination of terminology. The research material includes fan fiction texts, user comments, story descriptions, tagging systems, and metadata presented on modern digital platforms. The study employs structural-semantic, discourse-analytical, and descriptiveanalytical methods, as well as elements of corpus analysis. The findings demonstrate that terminological systems of fan discourse are characterized by openness, dynamism, and a high degree of variability. Terminological units are formed through various word-formation and semantic mechanisms, including abbreviation, blending, compounding, and semantic shift of general vocabulary. It is established that such terms perform not only a nominative function but also classificatory, organizational, identificatory, and pragmatic functions, ensuring effective interaction among community members and structuring of content. The study also proves that digital platforms play a key role in the codification of terminology through tagging systems, metadata, and search algorithms, contributing to its partial standardization and rapid dissemination while preserving its flexibility and openness to change.