The TikTok Dictionary
I vowed to never get TikTok. Now, the emblematic logo mocks me as I sign in almost every day for at least 20 minutes to get my daily dose of TikTok content. I didn’t want to join because I had a bias against the app since its 2017 merger with Musical.ly, otherwise known as “the app that will not be named”. However, early this semester I found myself lost in a class discussion around TikTok, and it suddenly dawned on me how ridiculous it was for a Communication student to not be intrigued by one of the biggest communication platforms of the time. So, with research in mind and a username to match (@for.research.purposes), I created my account and jumped right in, starting to familiarize myself with the format and subconsciously help an AI build my catered “for you” page. Thankfully, I was already familiar with the content since most TikToks end up on Instagram anyways, but my experience there opened my eyes to something important.
The more time I spent on TikTok, the more I was mesmerized by the intricate form of communication around its content. I ran into a video of a guy saying that he was making a big announcement and then proceeded to roll up the cuffs of his jeans. At first, I didn’t get it, but after looking through my rolodex of TikTok trends and tropes, I remembered seeing somewhere that cuffing your jeans “meant” that you were bisexual. Now the TikTok made sense. And still, I couldn’t shake this feeling that I had just stumbled upon something bigger than a clever TikTok. This incident got me thinking about the developing “language” around the app that allowed for content like this video to be made. Through its ongoing years of popularity, TikTok has developed what I can only refer to as a language of its own. I’m using the word “language” in a pretty flexible way here, meaning mainly a select code that applies to the entire platform, rather than your traditional English, Spanish, French, Italian languages. And still, however flexible the use, I think “language” encapsulates TikTok’s situation perfectly. Unlike traditional languages, the TikTok language is primarily an audiovisual form of communication, but this doesn’t stop the platform and its users from assigning meaning to sounds and visual cues the way we’ve traditionally assigned meaning to words. Much like when you use a certain adjective that doesn’t quite fit in a sentence, a TikTok audio or special effect can exist and be available for use, but use it with the wrong context and it will fail as miserably as the misused adjective.
For example, the song “pov” by Ariana Grande and the audio of Wendy Williams on her show saying, “oh, she passed away?” are both used within the app and usually go hand in hand with pictures of the users. However, the two carry very different meanings. Grande’s song from her latest album is used exclusively to showcase “all of the pretty and all of the ugly too,” which translated into TikTok as a trend where people can either show their best and worst pictures, the best and worst side of their face, or how they would look from their crush’s perspective to the audio of the song. The Wendy Williams recording on the other hand is used uniquely for glow ups, always under the implication that the old self of the audience has metaphorically “passed away” and been replaced by a more confident and attractive version of the user. This distinction between the audios may seem simple, but the context within them is really intricate and reveals the core nature of the TikTok language.
Like I mentioned before, traditional languages assign words to real life objects or feelings, creating a sort of expectation around that word and what it ought to represent. TikTok seems to go the extra mile by establishing meaning and a sense of expectation through audios and visuals. If a video in the platform features purple LED lights inside a room, which then change to red, the audience that is familiar with the code or language of TikTok can understand that the change in light is meant to symbolize a change in mood from calm to seductive or sensual. However, if someone is not familiar with the context and code around the app, the video could mean absolutely nothing to them, the same way a phrase in a different and unknown language would mean nothing to them. This barrier between those who use TikTok regularly and are up to date with every new trend and those who have become oblivious or indifferent to the app greatly resembles a traditional language barrier.
This “language barrier” further proves my point that TikTok has evolved from simply being a new form of communication, like slang or abbreviations were before it, and become a language of its own. The concepts of language and communication are constantly evolving, and it’d be arrogant to assume that language and communication as we currently know them are the absolute and most evolved version of language and communication. With new technology, and more importantly more access to it, the concepts of language and communication are bound to be affected by social media. Slang has been added to official dictionaries, but audio-visual content is not so easily situated between bound paper. So, what then? Other than for practicality, I think there should be a sort of TikTok dictionary, explaining what certain audios mean, what is expected of a video if said audio is in it, or even why some camera movements have specific meanings. More importantly, a document of this sort could validate TikTok as a platform and mode of communication. Despite its mainly humorous or easily digestible content, the dialect code found throughout the platform is incredible and a true development in the world of communication.
The ✨unofficial✨ TikTok Dictionary
Main character: most often used to refer to oneself, if life were a quirky movie or a wattpad novel this person would be it’s main character. Don’t we all think we’re the main character?
Songs in relation: “Mariners Apartment Complex” by Lana Del Rey, “Why You Only Call Me When You’re High” covered by Miley Cyrus
Audios in relation: “A Moment Apart - ODESZA,” also known as, “you have to start romanticizing your life…”
“Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra: the use of this song is usually accompanied by a sort of story time. One person runs through the frame, others (or the same if it’s only one creator) follow, each with a caption above them describing the progression of a story where people are running away from something or running after someone.
It Girls: fictional girls from different songs with either their name on the title or mentioned in the song. (a) Heather: based on Conan Gray’s song of the same title, she is the girl, everyone falls in love with her and there’s just something about her. (b)Mitchelle: from the song of the same title by Sir Chloe, Mitchelle is dangerous and doesn’t care if that bothers you, usually seen in all black with hooded eyes. (c) Jolene: from Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” she’s a free spirit, naturally gorgeous, and the original Miss Steal Your Man. (d) Jessie’s Girl: no real name, just “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Spriengfield, she’s from a small town and maybe wears a leather jacket on occasion, most importantly she’s just plain charming and sweet. (e) Ophelia: based on “Ophelia” by the Lumineers, another free spirit but in an enchanted forest sort of way, she probably describes herself as ethereal, and honestly, she is. (f) Delilah: from Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah,” she lives in New York City, most likely plays the ukulele, and is overall sweet and nice. (g) Caroline: based on “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, she is the sweetest, a girl next door sort of girl, and she just wears the cutest outfits.
“This is my voice after…”: someone is implying that after watching, doing, or overall being exposed to something for a certain amount of time, they start picking up stereotypical aspects of said thing.
“Love Story” by Taylor Swift: if you hear this audio, expect the phone to be pushed away from the person in the video (the phone usually glides on a chair or skateboard).
“Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac: primarily known and paired with a man (or person) skateboarding with a gallon of cranberry juice.
Yes, this explains the short outage of cranberry juice
“Space Cadet '' by Metro Booming: this song is used for it’s winking noise, at which the person in the video should wink. Sometimes used when a person is expressing they would never do something, but wink to imply that they most definitely would as long as no one found out about it.
“Olivia” by One Direction: not really an “it girl,” but definitely a transition song, if you hear this, expect to see someone in bed (from a bird’s eye view perspective), Once the clap in the song comes around, the person will clap, fall back into bed, and transition into themselves with a new look or outfit.
“Call an ambulance...but not for me”: this audio is used with the fictional situation of a killer/intruder/mugger coming up to someone and asking them to do X thing or they’ll shoot. The creator of the video proceeds to imply that they should call an ambulance because they can’t do X thing, but then reveal that they can do X thing.
“Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne”: the “she’s like so whatever” verse is used for creators on the app to showcase, and therefore embrace, their side profile.
“Electric Love” by BØRNS: mostly, if not exclusively, this song is used for videos where people attempt to kiss a friend or best friend for the first time in order to express their feelings.
Can also be used in the context of someone making fun of the aforementioned trend.
“pov” by Ariana Grande: the song has grown as different trends. (a) used to show the good and bad side of a creator’s face. (b) complemented with a series of edits of good and bad pictures of the creator. (c) used for creator’s to angle their phone or camera to the height of their crush.
“Oh she passed away?” Wendy Williams audio: used to showcase glow ups, implying that the old version of the creator “passed away,” and is now reborn with more confidence and better outfits.
“It’s Tricky” by Run D.M.C.: usually paired with a video showcasing multiple would you rather questions at the top of the screen, allowing creators and people in the video to exit one side of the screen or the other as a way of showing which option they choose.
“positions” by Ariana Grande: transition song used to imitate the music video for the original song in which the person transitions from one room to another (following the song).
Remi the Ratatouille: during the 2020 pandemic, certain groups of TikTokers created a Ratatouille musical, inspired by the 2007 Pixar film of the same name.
