WhatsApp as a Vector of Language Change: Indications From Igbo Aboriginal Students in South-Western Nigerian Universities.
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| Title: | WhatsApp as a Vector of Language Change: Indications From Igbo Aboriginal Students in South-Western Nigerian Universities. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Nzeaka, Emmanuel Ezimako1 |
| Source: | Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice. 2026, Vol. 26 Issue 1, p183-204. 22p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Social media, *Language maintenance, *Language & languages, *Digital communications, *Universities & colleges, *Language attrition, Social media mobile apps, Linguistic change |
| Geographic Terms: | Nigeria |
| Abstract: | Social media, especially WhatsApp, are increasingly shaping language use among young Nigerians at the expense of indigenous languages. This study examines the effect of WhatsApp on the use of the Igbo language among Igbo university students in southwestern Nigeria and how it may contribute to the endangerment of the Igbo language. The study draws on Media Ecology Theory, Technological Determinism Theory, and a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys and interviews to examine how students engage with language on WhatsApp and whether the platform nurtures or undermines linguistic sustainability. Findings show that WhatsApp holds vast potential for the development of the Igbo language, which is currently neglected. The use of the Igbo language is principally confined to cultural or domestic contexts, while English language and Nigerian Pidgin are used in everyday media discussions. The absence of user consciousness that WhatsApp offers language-specific features contributes to the decline. Also, this reduces the intentional use of digital conversations, which hastens endangerment. The study concludes that the absence of deliberate effort to place the language in digital platforms, such as WhatsApp, increases the risk of extinction. It recommends the growth of online-centered language groups and university-centered programmes to accelerate the prominence and usage of the Igbo language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice is the property of North American Business Press Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 193910508 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: WhatsApp as a Vector of Language Change: Indications From Igbo Aboriginal Students in South-Western Nigerian Universities. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nzeaka%2C+Emmanuel+Ezimako%22">Nzeaka, Emmanuel Ezimako</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Higher+Education+Theory+%26+Practice%22">Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 26 Issue 1, p183-204. 22p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+media%22">Social media</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+maintenance%22">Language maintenance</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+%26+languages%22">Language & languages</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Digital+communications%22">Digital communications</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities+%26+colleges%22">Universities & colleges</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+attrition%22">Language attrition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+media+mobile+apps%22">Social media mobile apps</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Linguistic+change%22">Linguistic change</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nigeria%22">Nigeria</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Social media, especially WhatsApp, are increasingly shaping language use among young Nigerians at the expense of indigenous languages. This study examines the effect of WhatsApp on the use of the Igbo language among Igbo university students in southwestern Nigeria and how it may contribute to the endangerment of the Igbo language. The study draws on Media Ecology Theory, Technological Determinism Theory, and a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys and interviews to examine how students engage with language on WhatsApp and whether the platform nurtures or undermines linguistic sustainability. Findings show that WhatsApp holds vast potential for the development of the Igbo language, which is currently neglected. The use of the Igbo language is principally confined to cultural or domestic contexts, while English language and Nigerian Pidgin are used in everyday media discussions. The absence of user consciousness that WhatsApp offers language-specific features contributes to the decline. Also, this reduces the intentional use of digital conversations, which hastens endangerment. The study concludes that the absence of deliberate effort to place the language in digital platforms, such as WhatsApp, increases the risk of extinction. It recommends the growth of online-centered language groups and university-centered programmes to accelerate the prominence and usage of the Igbo language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice is the property of North American Business Press Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=193910508 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 22 StartPage: 183 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Social media Type: general – SubjectFull: Language maintenance Type: general – SubjectFull: Language & languages Type: general – SubjectFull: Digital communications Type: general – SubjectFull: Universities & colleges Type: general – SubjectFull: Language attrition Type: general – SubjectFull: Social media mobile apps Type: general – SubjectFull: Linguistic change Type: general – SubjectFull: Nigeria Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: WhatsApp as a Vector of Language Change: Indications From Igbo Aboriginal Students in South-Western Nigerian Universities. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nzeaka, Emmanuel Ezimako IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Text: 2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 21583595 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 26 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice Type: main |
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