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The impact of social media on language use : a case study of first year students in the Western Cape
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2023
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| _version_ | 1867613935256993792 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Mfenqe, Zikhona |
| author2 | Huddlestone, Kate |
| author_browse | Huddlestone, Kate Mfenqe, Zikhona |
| author_facet | Huddlestone, Kate Mfenqe, Zikhona |
| author_sort | Mfenqe, Zikhona |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/129106 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:02.133Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/129106 The impact of social media on language use : a case study of first year students in the Western Cape Mfenqe, Zikhona Huddlestone, Kate Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of General Linguistics. Social media in education Sociolinguistics College students -- Western Cape (South Africa) -- Social aspects Language and languages -- Usage Mass media and language UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. ENGLISH ABSTRACT : This research study investigates the influence of social media on language use among first-year students in the Western Cape. In an era dominated by digital communication platforms, the study aimed to uncover how exposure to and engagement with various social media channels shape linguistic behaviours, preferences, and norms within this specific demographic. Employing a case study approach, a mixed-methods design was employed to triangulate data from both qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires. The qualitative segment of the research involved in-depth interviews with a diverse cohort of first-year students, exploring their perceptions of social media's impact on their language use. This qualitative exploration sought to unravel the participants' attitudes towards the role of social media in their lives and in facilitating language change. The quantitative aspect elicited information from participants on their social media habits, attitudes towards social media and academic work and opinions about language and social media. This analysis endeavoured to discern whether specific platforms or linguistic features are more likely to induce language change among the student population. The research revealed that social media facilitated communication, relationships, and integration within the academic environment. The study also explored linguistic practices among students on these platforms, showing English as the primary language of communication, often with relaxed grammar and symbols. Native languages were sidelined, affecting their usage. Additionally, the study explored the linguistic repertoires of selected participants. Limitations included narrow generalisability due to the focus on a single cohort and geographical area, while recommendations emphasized the need to harness social media's positive aspects for enhancing language usage and academic engagement while acknowledging potential challenges. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Hierdie navorsingstudie ondersoek die invloed van sosiale media op taalgebruik onder eerstejaarstudente in die Wes-Kaap. In 'n era wat deur digitale kommunikasieplatforms oorheers is, het die studie ten doel gehad om te ontdek hoe blootstelling aan en betrokkenheid by verskeie sosiale media-kanale linguistiese gedrag, voorkeure en norme binne hierdie spesifieke demografiese vorm. Deur 'n gevallestudiebenadering te gebruik, is 'n gemengde-metodes-ontwerp aangewend om data van beide kwalitatiewe onderhoude en kwantitatiewe vraelyste te trianguleer. Die kwalitatiewe segment van die navorsing het in-diepte onderhoude met 'n diverse kohort eerstejaarstudente behels, wat hul persepsies van sosiale media se impak op hul taalgebruik ondersoek het. Hierdie kwalitatiewe verkenning het gepoog om die deelnemers se houdings teenoor die rol van sosiale media in hul lewens en in die fasilitering van taalverandering te ontrafel. Die kwantitatiewe aspek het inligting van deelnemers ontlok oor hul sosiale media-gewoontes, houdings teenoor sosiale media en akademiese werk en menings oor taal en sosiale media. Hierdie analise het gepoog om te onderskei of spesifieke platforms of linguistiese kenmerke meer geneig is om taalverandering onder die studentepopulasie te veroorsaak. Die navorsing het aan die lig gebring dat sosiale media kommunikasie, verhoudings en integrasie binne die akademiese omgewing fasiliteer. Die studie het ook linguistiese praktyke onder studente op hierdie platforms ondersoek, wat Engels as die primêre taal van kommunikasie toon, dikwels met ontspanne grammatika en simbole. Inheemse tale is opsy gesit, wat hul gebruik beïnvloed. Daarbenewens het die studie die taalrepertoire van geselekteerde deelnemers ondersoek. Beperkings het eng veralgemeenbaarheid ingesluit as gevolg van die fokus op 'n enkele kohort en geografiese gebied, terwyl aanbevelings die behoefte beklemtoon het om sosiale media se positiewe aspekte te benut vir die verbetering van taalgebruik en akademiese betrokkenheid, terwyl potensiële uitdagings erken word. Masters 2023-11-30T17:19:51Z 2024-01-08T22:37:32Z 2023-11-30T17:19:51Z 2024-01-08T22:37:32Z 2023-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/129106 en_ZA Stellenbosch University vii, 132 pages : coloured illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Social media in education Sociolinguistics College students -- Western Cape (South Africa) -- Social aspects Language and languages -- Usage Mass media and language UCTD Mfenqe, Zikhona The impact of social media on language use : a case study of first year students in the Western Cape |
| title | The impact of social media on language use : a case study of first year students in the Western Cape |
| title_full | The impact of social media on language use : a case study of first year students in the Western Cape |
| title_fullStr | The impact of social media on language use : a case study of first year students in the Western Cape |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of social media on language use : a case study of first year students in the Western Cape |
| title_short | The impact of social media on language use : a case study of first year students in the Western Cape |
| title_sort | impact of social media on language use a case study of first year students in the western cape |
| topic | Social media in education Sociolinguistics College students -- Western Cape (South Africa) -- Social aspects Language and languages -- Usage Mass media and language UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/129106 |
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