The Role of Texting in Shaping Modern Nigerian English

EasyChair Preprint 13997

Abstract

This article investigates the significant impact of texting on the evolution of modern Nigerian English. The study aims to explore how the widespread use of mobile phones and SMS has influenced the linguistic landscape in Nigeria. By examining various dimensions, including the adoption of digital shorthand, the blending of English with indigenous languages, and the subsequent changes in both written and spoken communication, this research highlights the dynamic interplay between technology and language.

The findings suggest that texting has introduced a unique linguistic style characterized by abbreviations, acronyms, and a fusion of English with local languages, reflecting the cultural identity and everyday realities of Nigerians. Furthermore, the study discusses the implications of this linguistic shift, considering both the challenges, such as potential linguistic homogenization, and the opportunities for linguistic innovation and the preservation of indigenous languages in digital form.

Through a qualitative analysis of text messages, social media interactions, and existing literature, this article provides a comprehensive understanding of how texting has reshaped modern Nigerian English, contributing to the broader discourse on language evolution in the digital age.

Keyphrases: Indigenous languages, Nigerian English, digital shorthand, linguistic evolution, mobile communication, texting

@booklet{EasyChair:13997,
  author    = {James Christopher and Goodwill David},
  title     = {The Role of Texting in Shaping Modern Nigerian English},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 13997},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2024}}