The Impact of Social Media on Nigerian Morphosyntax: A Comparative Study of Twitter vs. WhatsApp Language
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Background of the Study
Digital communication platforms have become integral to language evolution, and in Nigeria, social media platforms like Twitter and WhatsApp are at the forefront of this change. This study examines how these platforms affect Nigerian morphosyntax—the structural rules governing word formation and sentence construction. Twitter, with its character limits and fast-paced exchanges, often fosters abbreviated forms and innovative word formations, while WhatsApp, characterized by more extended interactions, supports different syntactic patterns (Eze, 2023). By comparing corpora of tweets and WhatsApp messages, the study aims to identify how digital constraints and affordances influence morphological processes such as affixation, compounding, and clause construction. This comparative analysis will also explore whether the linguistic innovations observed on these platforms converge towards a common digital language or diverge based on the medium. The findings will provide valuable insights into the ways digital media catalyzes morphosyntactic innovation, reflecting broader cultural and technological shifts in Nigeria (Afolabi, 2024).
Statement of the Problem
Despite the growing influence of social media on language use, there is limited comparative research on how platforms like Twitter and WhatsApp specifically affect Nigerian morphosyntax. Existing studies often address individual platforms without considering the interplay between different digital communication modes. This gap restricts our understanding of how platform-specific constraints lead to morphological innovations and syntactic variations, which in turn may impact language standardization and user comprehension. Addressing this issue is essential for developing adaptive communication strategies and informing language policy in the digital era (Eze, 2023; Afolabi, 2024).
Objectives of the Study
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To compare morphological and syntactic features in Twitter and WhatsApp messages.
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To analyze the impact of digital constraints on language structure.
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To assess the broader implications of these innovations for Nigerian morphosyntax.
Research Questions
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What morphosyntactic differences exist between Twitter and WhatsApp language?
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How do digital constraints influence language use on these platforms?
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What are the implications of these variations for communication effectiveness?
Significance of the Study
This study enhances our understanding of digital language evolution by comparing morphosyntactic features on Twitter and WhatsApp. The findings will benefit linguists, educators, and policymakers, offering insights into how digital platforms shape language practices in Nigeria (Eze, 2023).
Scope and Limitations of the Study
The study is limited to analyzing morphosyntactic features in Nigerian Twitter and WhatsApp messages and does not include other social media platforms.
Definitions of Terms
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Morphosyntax: The study of the structure and formation of sentences and words.
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Digital Constraints: Limitations imposed by digital platforms on language use.
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Social Media: Online platforms facilitating interactive communication.
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