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The Influence of Emojis, Memes, and Internet Slang on Contemporary Language and Interpersonal Communication
Subject area: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities · Area of research: Language and Communication
Abstract
The rise of digital communication has significantly transformed contemporary language use and interpersonal interactions, with emojis, memes, and internet slang playing a central role in shaping linguistic expression. This study examines the influence of these digital elements on language structure, grammar, and interpersonal communication among undergraduate students at Taraba State University, Jalingo. Using a quantitative survey approach, data were collected from a sample of students to assess their perceptions of and engagement with digital communication tools. The findings reveal that while emojis, memes, and internet slang enhance expressiveness and social connectivity, they also contribute to a decline in formal writing skills, grammatical accuracy, and linguistic coherence. A significant proportion of respondents admitted to struggling with code-switching between digital and formal language, leading to academic and professional communication challenges. The study further highlights the need for digital literacy programs that promote context-appropriate language use while leveraging the benefits of digital communication. These findings contribute to existing scholarly debates on the evolving nature of language in the digital age, emphasizing the necessity for educational institutions to address the implications of digital communication trends on formal literacy.
Keywords
Digital communication, emojis, internet slang, language structure, interpersonal interaction.
How to cite this paper
@article{1707189,
author = {Chris JD Michael},
title = {The Influence of Emojis, Memes, and Internet Slang on Contemporary Language and Interpersonal Communication},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2025},
volume = {8},
number = {8},
pages = {475-484},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1707189.pdf},
abstract = {The rise of digital communication has significantly transformed contemporary language use and interpersonal interactions, with emojis, memes, and internet slang playing a central role in shaping linguistic expression. This study examines the influence of these digital elements on language structure, grammar, and interpersonal communication among undergraduate students at Taraba State University, Jalingo. Using a quantitative survey approach, data were collected from a sample of students to assess their perceptions of and engagement with digital communication tools. The findings reveal that while emojis, memes, and internet slang enhance expressiveness and social connectivity, they also contribute to a decline in formal writing skills, grammatical accuracy, and linguistic coherence. A significant proportion of respondents admitted to struggling with code-switching between digital and formal language, leading to academic and professional communication challenges. The study further highlights the need for digital literacy programs that promote context-appropriate language use while leveraging the benefits of digital communication. These findings contribute to existing scholarly debates on the evolving nature of language in the digital age, emphasizing the necessity for educational institutions to address the implications of digital communication trends on formal literacy.},
keywords = {Digital communication, emojis, internet slang, language structure, interpersonal interaction.},
month = {February},
}