Abstract
This study examines generational differences in slang usage among students of selected Nigerian universities, namely the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Jos, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Maiduguri, Bayero University Kano and the University of Port Harcourt. This study is anchored in Variationist Sociolinguistics and the research investigates how age as a social variable shapes the creation, interpretation and use of slang among two generational cohorts: Generation Y (born 1981–1996) and Generation Z (born 1997–2012). Data were generated through semi-structured interviews and naturalistic observation of offline campus interactions and online discourse involving 320 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The findings show that even though the two generations use slang as a resource for social bonding and identity construction, clear differences exist in terms of lexical innovation, semantic flexibility and digital mediation. Generation Z demonstrates a higher propensity for internet-driven slang, rapid lexical turnover and multimodal expression, whereas Generation Y exhibits more stable, context-bound usage rooted in earlier campus and pre-digital communicative practices. These patterns indicate that slang functions as a socially meaningful linguistic variable to show generational identity, technological exposure and communicative norms within Nigerian university spaces. The study contributes to sociolinguistic research on age-graded variation by documenting contemporary Nigerian university slang as an index of ongoing linguistic change.
Keywords: Digital
discourse, Linguistic innovation, Youth identity, Communicative culture, Social
media Interaction
DOI: 10.36349/alqajolls.2026.v01i02.029
author/Babangida Yusuf & Ohiani Johnson Onoruoiza
journal/AL-QALAM JLLS 1(2) | June 2026
