Semantic Shift among Undergraduates of Lead City University
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Date
2025
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Lead City University, Ibadan
Abstract
This study investigates the phenomenon of semantic shift among undergraduates of Lead City University, Ibadan. It examines how social, cultural, and technological factors influence the reinterpretation and contextual transformation of English words in students’ everyday communication. The campus environment, especially within institutions like Lead City University, Ibadan, provides a rich setting where English is reshaped to fit the realities of youthful interaction, media influence, and digital culture. The research adopts a qualitative approach grounded in synchronic linguistics and cognitive–pragmatic theories, emphasizing natural language use without the aid of recording devices. A total of thirty (30) undergraduates were randomly selected from different faculties and academic levels of Lead City University. Data were obtained through observation and informal interviews with students, focusing on how they assign new meanings to existing English expressions. Findings reveal that undergraduates frequently employ words such as vibe, ginger, cruise, flex, and mad in ways that depart from their standard dictionary meanings. These shifts reflect creativity, peer identity, and the influence of digital media on language use. The study concludes that semantic shift among students is not arbitrary but socially motivated, mirroring wider trends in contemporary English usage and youth communication.
Keywords: Semantic shift, undergraduates, Lead City University, synchronic linguistics, cognitive semantics, youth language, Nigerian English.
Word Count: 205
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Keywords
Semantic shift, undergraduates, Lead City University, synchronic linguistics, cognitive semantics, youth language, Nigerian English.
Citation
Kate Turabian