TOPICS

Background of the study
Facebook comment threads in Nigeria represent a microcosm of digital communication, where diverse linguistic practices converge. These threads often display syntactic variations as users engage in interactive discourse that blends formal language with innovative online expressions (Ibrahim, 2023). The constrained yet dynamic environment of Facebook comments leads to the emergence of unique sentence structures, punctuation styles, and abbreviated...

Background of the study
Hashtags have evolved from mere organizational tools into potent catalysts for linguistic change in digital discourse. In Nigeria, Twitter trends are marked by the emergence of hashtag-based language innovations that encapsulate cultural, political, and social narratives (Okafor, 2024). Nigerian users repurpose hashtags to generate new lexemes, semantic shifts, and syntactic variations that challenge conventional language structures. These dynam...

Background of the study
In the dynamic landscape of digital communication, Twitter serves as a fertile ground for linguistic creativity. Nigerian users, in particular, have harnessed the platform’s brevity to experiment with morphological innovations through unique captioning styles. These captions often incorporate novel affixation, compounding, and blending techniques that diverge from standard language norms (Ibrahim, 2023). The rapid exchange of tweets and th...

Background of the study
Digital media has significantly influenced phonetic expression, and in Nigeria, TikTok has emerged as a prominent platform where audio clips showcase diverse phonetic variations. Users on TikTok experiment with pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm, often modifying traditional speech patterns to create entertaining and engaging content (Ibrahim, 2023). These audio clips not only reflect individual creativity but also contribute to a broader tren...

Background of the study
Digital neologisms are rapidly transforming language, and in Nigeria, Instagram has emerged as a key arena for such lexical innovation. Instagram hashtags are used not only to tag content but also to coin new terms and expressions that capture contemporary cultural and social phenomena (Ibrahim, 2023). Users creatively combine words, abbreviations, and symbols to form neologisms that quickly gain popularity and diffuse through online communities...

Background of the study
Digital code‑switching, the practice of alternating between languages in online interactions, is a prevalent phenomenon in Nigeria’s multilingual society. WhatsApp and Facebook serve as primary platforms where code‑switching occurs frequently, reflecting the fluid linguistic practices of Nigerian users (Ibrahim, 2023). On WhatsApp, private and informal conversations allow for seamless transitions between local languages and English, while...

Background of the study
Viral hashtags have transformed digital communication by shaping not only content but also linguistic structures. In Nigeria, Twitter movements driven by viral hashtags have sparked notable changes in morphosyntactic patterns. Users condense complex ideas into compact messages, leading to the emergence of innovative sentence structures and grammatical forms (Ibrahim, 2023). Hashtags, initially introduced as a means to categorize content, now ser...

Background of the study
Social media has emerged as a catalyst for linguistic innovation in Nigeria, with Facebook groups serving as dynamic communities where new language practices are born. Within these groups, users engage in creative language production, adopting and adapting linguistic forms that reflect contemporary cultural and social identities (Ibrahim, 2023). The conversational nature of Facebook group interactions promotes experimentation with syntax, morpho...

Background of the study
Semantic shifts in language occur as meanings evolve over time, and digital media has accelerated this process. In Nigeria, Instagram and Twitter are pivotal platforms where users continually negotiate meaning through evolving language practices (Ibrahim, 2023). Instagram, with its emphasis on visual content, often features captions and comments that repurpose traditional words to align with contemporary cultural trends. Twitter, known for its b...

Background of the study
Code‑switching, the practice of alternating between languages within a conversation, is a ubiquitous feature of Nigerian social media. WhatsApp and Facebook are two primary platforms where code‑switching is prominently observed. On WhatsApp, intimate conversations often exhibit seamless transitions between indigenous languages and English, reflecting everyday bilingual practices. In contrast, Facebook interactions tend to blend formal and inform...

Background of the study
Morphological variation is a key indicator of language evolution, especially in digital contexts. On Twitter, Nigerian users actively participate in creating hashtag neologisms—new word forms that emerge from the creative use of hashtags (Ibrahim, 2023). These neologisms often reflect socio-cultural trends and serve as linguistic innovations that challenge traditional morphological boundaries. Hashtags initially functioned as metadata tags...

Background of the study
Digital communication is not solely about conveying information—it is equally about managing interpersonal relationships through pragmatic strategies. In Nigeria, Twitter and Instagram have become vibrant arenas where users deploy various pragmatic devices to express attitudes, manage conversations, and negotiate social relationships (Okafor, 2023). Twitter, with its character limits and real‑time updates, necessitates the creative use of...

Background of the study
Nigeria’s digital landscape has witnessed a rapid transformation in online communication practices, with social media platforms playing a pivotal role. Facebook and WhatsApp are two of the most influential platforms that have reshaped interpersonal communication, information dissemination, and social interaction in Nigeria (Ibrahim, 2023). While Facebook provides a forum for long‐form discussions, community building, and public debates, Wh...

Background of the study
Digital visual narratives have transformed communication by combining visual elements with textual content. In Nigeria, Instagram Story captions are emerging as a distinctive medium where digital visual narratives influence morphosyntactic patterns. Users creatively craft captions that complement their visual content, often blending traditional grammatical structures with innovative morphosyntactic forms (Okoro, 2023). These captions reflect a c...

Background of the study
Social media platforms have revolutionized the way language is produced and perceived, especially in the realm of phonetics. In Nigeria, TikTok has emerged as a dominant platform where lip‑sync videos serve as a creative outlet for linguistic experimentation. Users often manipulate pronunciation, intonation, and stress patterns to enhance the performative aspect of their videos (Ibrahim, 2023). This phenomenon has led to notable phonetic variati...

Background of the study
Hashtag‑based language change is emerging as a significant factor in digital communication, particularly on Twitter. In Nigeria, hashtags are not only used for categorization but also to instigate and disseminate new linguistic forms. This study examines how hashtag trends on Twitter contribute to language change by fostering innovative uses of vocabulary, syntax, and discourse patterns (Okafor, 2023). Nigerian users often incorporate hashtags i...

Background of the study
Morphosyntactic variation in digital communication reflects the evolving nature of language in response to technological and cultural shifts. Twitter threads, as extended conversations on a microblogging platform, offer a unique opportunity to observe these variations in Nigerian social media. Users construct multi-part messages that often blend standard language with innovative morphosyntactic structures, resulting in a dynamic interplay betwee...

Background of the study
Code‑switching, the practice of alternating between languages or dialects, is a common phenomenon in Nigerian digital communication. WhatsApp and Facebook, as two major social media platforms, exhibit distinct patterns of code‑switching that reflect the country's linguistic diversity and cultural dynamism (Obi, 2023). On WhatsApp, conversations tend to be intimate and spontaneous, often featuring seamless shifts between indigenous languages...

Background of the study
Online linguistic innovation is a hallmark of contemporary digital culture, and Instagram memes serve as a prime example of this phenomenon in Nigeria. Memes on Instagram are more than humorous images; they are creative expressions that encapsulate novel linguistic forms and challenge conventional language norms. Nigerian users leverage the visual and textual components of memes to introduce new words, phrases, and syntactic structures that reso...

Background of the study
Digital discourse on social media platforms is reconfiguring the way meanings are constructed and shared. In Nigeria, Facebook and Twitter serve as major hubs where users generate semantic networks that reflect both traditional and innovative interpretations of language. Facebook allows for extended narratives and community discussions, leading to the development of rich semantic webs, while Twitter’s brevity fosters rapid exchanges that c...

Background of the study
Hashtag campaigns have become central to digital political mobilization, especially on Twitter. In Nigeria, political movements leverage hashtag campaigns not only to rally support but also to reshape language practices, particularly syntax. The strategic use of hashtags in political discourse has led to the emergence of new syntactic structures, as users condense complex political messages into concise, impactful statements (Ibrahim, 2023). The...

Background of the Study
Digital communication has transformed the way Nigerians use language, particularly in the employment of pragmatic markers—linguistic cues that manage conversational flow and express attitudes. Facebook and WhatsApp represent two contrasting communication environments: Facebook supports public, extended discourse with formal pragmatic conventions, while WhatsApp encourages spontaneous, informal interaction with a reliance on colloquial pra...

Background of the Study
Twitter political hashtags have emerged as powerful drivers of semantic change in Nigeria, reshaping the language landscape by creating dynamic semantic networks. These hashtags encapsulate political ideologies, social movements, and cultural sentiments, leading to the redefinition and expansion of semantic domains (Nwachukwu, 2023). Nigerian Twitter users actively participate in political discourse by coining and popularizing hashtags that tra...

Background of the Study
Digital communication in Nigeria has spurred unprecedented linguistic creativity, particularly in the realm of morphological innovation. Instagram captions are a prime example, where users routinely manipulate word forms—through blending, abbreviation, and re‑spelling—to create novel expressions that resonate with a visually oriented audience (Akinola, 2023). The limited character space combined with the need to complement images fo...

Background of the Study
Instagram captions in Nigeria provide a unique window into digital code‑mixing, where users blend indigenous languages with English to create expressive, culturally nuanced messages. This phenomenon reflects Nigeria’s rich multilingual heritage and the dynamic nature of online communication (Adetayo, 2023). In Instagram captions, the integration of multiple languages is often employed to convey humor, cultural references, or social commen...