An Assessment of Morphological Productivity in Nigerian Urban Slang: A Case Study of Twitter Neologisms
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Background of the study
Urban slang in Nigeria is rapidly evolving, particularly within digital communication platforms such as Twitter. Morphological productivity—the ability of a language to generate new words—has become a hallmark of Nigerian urban slang, where creative word formations and neologisms are proliferating. This study assesses morphological productivity by examining Twitter neologisms used by Nigerian youth. It investigates how digital constraints and cultural influences spur the creation of new morphological forms through processes such as blending, affixation, and compounding. By analyzing a corpus of tweets, the research identifies recurrent patterns in word formation and explores how these innovations reflect broader social, economic, and political trends. The study further examines the role of peer influence and digital affordances in driving morphological change. Insights gained from this investigation will contribute to our understanding of language evolution in digital contexts and inform language policy, educational practices, and the development of lexicographical resources for urban slang (Eze, 2023; Ifeanyi, 2024; Nwachukwu, 2025).
Statement of the problem
Although Nigerian urban slang is dynamic, systematic research on its morphological productivity remains limited. The rapid generation of neologisms on platforms like Twitter challenges traditional linguistic analysis and complicates efforts to document and standardize new word forms. This gap in research hampers our understanding of how digital communication fosters language change and affects cultural identity (Eze, 2023).
Objectives of the study:
• To document morphological neologisms on Twitter.
• To analyze the processes driving word formation.
• To evaluate the implications for language standardization.
Research questions:
• What are the dominant morphological processes in Twitter slang?
• How do these processes operate in digital contexts?
• What effects do these neologisms have on language use?
Significance of the study
This study is significant as it provides insights into the morphological productivity of Nigerian urban slang, crucial for understanding digital language evolution and guiding language policy and education in a rapidly changing linguistic landscape (Nwachukwu, 2025).
Scope and limitations of the study:
The study focuses solely on Twitter neologisms in Nigerian urban slang and does not consider other social media or offline slang.
Definitions of terms:
• Morphological Productivity: The capacity to form new words.
• Neologisms: Newly coined words or expressions.
• Urban Slang: Informal language used in urban communities.
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