Analyzing the Impact of Digital Media on Language Usage Among Nigerian Youths
Keywords:
Code-switching, Nigerian youth, digital media, internet slang, sociolinguistics, language change, Pidgin English, linguistic identity, mediatization, digital communicationAbstract
This study investigates the impact of digital media on language usage among Nigerian youths, focusing on code-switching practices, informal digital orthography, and sociolinguistic identity construction. Using a mixed-methods approach comprising a nationwide survey (N = 482), digital content analysis, and semi-structured interviews, the research explores how social media platforms influence linguistic behaviour across urban and rural contexts. Findings reveal a high prevalence of code-switching, particularly between English, Nigerian Pidgin, and indigenous languages, often motivated by identity signaling and contextual intimacy. Youths widely adopt internet slang, abbreviations, and emojis as expressive tools, blurring boundaries between formal and informal registers. While some evidence of textual interference in academic writing was found, many participants demonstrate awareness of context-appropriate language use. Importantly, digital platforms also serve as spaces for reclaiming linguistic identity and reshaping language prestige hierarchies. These findings contribute to theories of mediatization, language hybridity, and identity performance in digital discourse. The study concludes by recommending pedagogical strategies that embrace metalinguistic awareness and advocate for the inclusion of indigenous languages in digital literacy policies.
Keywords: Code-switching, Nigerian youth, digital media, internet slang, sociolinguistics, language change, Pidgin English, linguistic identity, mediatization, digital communication
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