WHEN NOUNS BECOME VERBS: MORPHOLOGY AND DISCURSIVE INNOVATION ON X (FORMERLY TWITTER) IN COLOMBIA

Abstract

This article examines the creation and circulation of denominal verbs derived from the proper names of political figures in Colombian digital discourse, based on a corpus of posts published on X (formerly Twitter) between 2021 and 2022. Drawing on an approach that combines verbal morphology, discourse analysis and corpus linguistics, the study shows that the suffix -ear constitutes a highly productive mechanism for verbalizing proper names in Colombian Spanish. Far from being mere instances of playful lexical creativity, these formations function as full-fledged discursive operators. They condense accusation, evaluative judgment and political criticism, while facilitating rapid circulation and collective memorization within the digital public sphere. A detailed analysis of the verb abudinear and its extensions (jeniferear, duquear, carrasquillear) reveals the gradual shift from punctual morphological innovations to stabilized discursive formulas
carrying a strong axiological load. The article thus demonstrates that morphological innovation on X plays an active role in processes of political delegitimation and polarization in contemporary Colombia, offering a valuable lens through which to examine the interplay between language, political conflict and digital media.