JOHOR BAHRU, Apr 13 – In line with the university’s commitment to advancing critical, interdisciplinary scholarship and strengthening students’ responsiveness to contemporary global challenges, a public lecture entitled “Language and Internet: The Sociolinguistics of Digital Deception” was successfully held on 13 April 2026 via Google Meet. The programme has attracted active participation from undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as academic staff, reflecting a strong institutional culture of intellectual engagement and lifelong learning.

The session was hosted by Dr Intan Norjahan Azman from the Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), featuring Dr Muhammad Adnan Pitchan of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as the invited speaker. The lecture functioned as an extension of the Sociolinguistics module, aligning with institutional goals to integrate theoretical knowledge with real-world applications. It also supported the university’s broader agenda of equipping students with transferable analytical skills relevant to contemporary digital environments.

In her opening address, Dr Intan Norjahan highlighted the growing importance of examining language use within digitally mediated contexts, particularly as communicative practices continue to evolve alongside technological innovation. She further emphasised the lecture’s role in connecting linguistic inquiry with critical concerns surrounding cybersecurity and ethical communication. Accordingly, she underscored the lecture’s objective of bridging linguistic theory with pressing issues of cybersecurity, ethics, and responsible digital citizenship.

The keynote presentation delivered by Dr Muhammad Adnan provided a comprehensive exploration of the linguistic strategies underpinning online scams. Drawing upon established sociolinguistic theories, he demonstrated how elements such as politeness, impoliteness, and “face” management are strategically deployed to manipulate victims. He further demonstrated how scammers strategically shift between rapport-building language and authoritative discourse to exploit both emotional vulnerability and fear. The discussion was enriched by detailed case studies, including “pig butchering” scams, which rely on prolonged emotional engagement, and Macau scams, which deploy institutional authority and urgency. Additionally, the presentation highlighted emerging threats such as AI-driven voice cloning, signalling the increasing sophistication of digital deception.

The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer segment, which encouraged critical discourse among participants on linguistic markers of deception and ethical considerations in research. Students explored linguistic indicators of deception, such as unnatural code-switching and cultural inconsistencies, while also addressing ethical considerations in conducting research on sensitive digital materials. Practical insights were also shared, including awareness of Malaysia’s National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NSRC) hotline and the urgency of prompt reporting.

Overall, the programme exemplifies the university’s ongoing efforts to cultivate analytically informed, ethically grounded, and socially responsible graduates. By situating sociolinguistic knowledge within the context of digital risk and security, the lecture not only enriched academic understanding but also empowered participants with practical awareness essential for navigating the complexities of an increasingly digitalised society.

Written by: Dr Faraha Hamidi, Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UTM