An Appraisal of Morphological Innovation in Nigerian Social Media Discourse: A Comparative Analysis of Twitter Captions
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Background of the study
Morphological innovation in digital communication is transforming the way language is used online. On Twitter, users often craft captions that incorporate inventive word formations and creative lexical blends, challenging traditional morphological rules. Nigerian Twitter users, influenced by socio-cultural trends and digital constraints, frequently coin new expressions that reflect contemporary realities (Ibrahim, 2024). These innovative constructions, including abbreviations, portmanteaus, and hashtag neologisms, contribute to an evolving digital lexicon. This study compares morphological innovations in Twitter captions to traditional word formation processes, examining how digital constraints and cultural influences drive lexical creativity (Adeola, 2023). By analyzing a corpus of Twitter captions, the research aims to identify patterns and underlying mechanisms of morphological change in Nigerian digital discourse, contributing to a broader understanding of language evolution in online contexts (Obi, 2025).
Statement of the problem
Although morphological innovation is evident in Nigerian Twitter discourse, there is limited systematic analysis of how digital environments foster new word formations. Existing research often focuses on socio-cultural aspects without a detailed examination of the linguistic processes involved. This gap restricts our understanding of how Twitter’s constraints and user creativity drive morphological change, leaving educators and policymakers without a comprehensive framework to address emerging digital language trends (Chinwe, 2023).
Objectives of the study
1. To document morphological innovations in Twitter captions.
2. To analyze the processes driving these innovations.
3. To compare digital and traditional word formation.
Research questions
1. What morphological innovations are prevalent in Twitter captions?
2. How are new lexical items formed in digital contexts?
3. What implications do these changes have for language evolution?
Significance of the study
This study is significant as it appraises morphological innovation in Nigerian Twitter discourse, providing insights into digital word formation. The findings will contribute to sociolinguistic theory and inform language education and policy (Ibrahim, 2024; Obi, 2025).
Scope and limitations of the study
The study focuses on Twitter captions by Nigerian users; it excludes other platforms and offline linguistic practices.
Definitions of terms
• Morphological Innovation: The creation of new word forms or the alteration of existing ones.
• Twitter Captions: Text accompanying tweets or multimedia content on Twitter.
• Digital Lexicon: The vocabulary emerging from online communication.
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