The Language of Emotion: Constructing Kilig on Wattpad Romance Stories Through Readers’ In-Line Comments

This study examines the linguistic features in reader comments on Wattpad romance stories that construct the emotion of kilig. It focuses on two main questions: (1) What linguistic features (phonology, morphology, semantics) express kilig in comments, and how do they shape readers’ emotional experiences? (2) How is kilig portrayed as a Filipino emotion, and how does it influence readers’ emotional engagement? Using purposive sampling and textual analysis, the study investigates three completed Wattpad romance stories, emphasizing reader comments. Results show that phonological features like onomatopoeia and sound exaggeration, morphological elements like codeswitching and slang, and semantic features such as hyperbole and indirect attraction contribute to kilig. Emojis enhance emotional expression. Kilig as a cultural expression plays a key role in shaping readers’ emotional involvement by incorporating Filipino language, cultural nuances, and semiotic elements. This creates a sense of familiarity and emotional resonance, making kilig moments impactful. These linguistic and semiotic features reflect Filipino cultural ways of expressing emotions, with kilig's unique blend of excitement, joy, and playfulness captured through exaggeration, codeswitching, and local slang. Emojis, a part of digital communication, further connect with contemporary Filipino culture.