POPULAR CULTURE: TRENDING SLANGS AMONG STUDENT YOUTHS IN LAGOS STATE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Nigerian youths have constantly evolved new ideas, ideologies and conventions specifically with the emergence of globalisation and digitalisation. Exposure to media objects and technology are undeniably potent influences and sources of popular culture among youths. The emergence of popular culture derived from music, film, internet, social media, entertainment, language, cuisine, politics and fashion have evolved slangs which are broadly accepted as norm within the youth’s age range. These slangs have peculiar traits and features which make them trend for a season before they outlive their importance as a coded means of communication among them. These aspects of popular culture among Nigerian youths are the focus of this survey. The method involved the use of on line questionnaire as the major instrument of this research to reach wider respondents in tertiary institutions in Lagos state. The sample was taken from a population between the ages of 16-30 to be further broken into age ranges.  It examined the concept of popular slangs, emergence of slangs from single words, syllables, phrases already in use or newly created words and acceptability among youths. It equally searched for sources, acceptability and contextual meanings of slangs among student youths. In addition, it classified, categorized and deciphered slangs with emphasis on some features which make them outstanding. The study made recommendations and suggestions for inclusion of some of these slangs in lexicons and dictionary as accepted modes of communication nationally and internationally.