Mapping language economy strategies in Spanish political discourse on X

Abstract

[EN] This study investigates language economy strategies in Spanish political discourse on X, analysing how users optimize communication. Through analysis of posts, we identify patterns of linguistic adaptation across syntactic and morphological dimensions. The research combines computational linguistics with traditional discourse analysis to examine strategy distribution, comprehensibility, and effectiveness. Results reveal a preference for syntactic strategies over morphological modifications. Message comprehensibility remains high despite substantial compression, challenging assumptions about the economy-clarity trade-off. Thread depth analysis shows peak strategy diversity at moderate depths, suggesting an optimal complexity point in digital political discourse. The study extends platform vernacular theory by demonstrating how political actors adapt linguistic strategies while maintaining effectiveness. These findings contribute to understanding how languages adapt to digital environments and have implications for political communication strategies, platform design, and digital literacy education.