Lexical trends in Facebook and Twitter texts of selected Nigerian Pentecostal churches: A stylistic inquiry

Chimuanya, Lily and Awonuga, C. and Chiluwa, Innocent (2018) Lexical trends in Facebook and Twitter texts of selected Nigerian Pentecostal churches: A stylistic inquiry. De Gruyter Mounton. pp. 45-83.

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Abstract

The influx of religious activities and religious discourse on the Internet has made it pertinent to examine the fundamental roles of language in the expression, presentation, understanding, and advancement of any set of religious beliefs and practices. One main aspect of online religious activities that continues to arrest the attention of scholars is the uniqueness of language used by religious practitioners. For instance, new linguistic strategies and devices have emerged as a result of bending language to suit trends on a new medium. The emergence of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the twenty-first century has also resulted in the manifestation of computer-mediated communication, with its attendant pervasive new forms of language and practices. Nigerian Pentecostal churches have used the Internet, especially the social media such as Facebook and Twitter, in propagating their doctrines. This study identifies emerging lexical trends in the way six Nigerian Pentecostal churches use language in extending their practices on the new media and submits that such innovations are leading up to the birth of a new cyber-variety of Nigerian English.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	style, lexical strategies, Facebook, Twitter, Nigerian pentecostalism
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PE English
Divisions:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Education Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Humanities
Depositing User:	Mrs Patricia Nwokealisi
Date Deposited:	07 Sep 2018 11:02
Last Modified:	07 Sep 2018 11:02
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/11516

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