@article{MAKHILLTSS201813424688,
    title = {Netwrite or Netspeak?: Towards a Typology of Discourse
Features of Ghanaian University Student’s Social Media Discourse},
    journal = {The Social Sciences},
    volume = {13},
    number = {4},
    pages = {927-933},
    year = {2018},
    issn = {1818-5800},
    doi = {sscience.2018.927.933},
    url = {https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?issn=1818-5800&doi=sscience.2018.927.933},
    author = {Joyce,G.S.K. and},
    keywords = {university students,Netspeak,Netwrite,typology,Social media discourse,online language},
    abstract = {The study explored and categorized Ghanaian University student’s social media linguistic choices
into coherent threads. This typology was made possible by collating some 4,656 text threads and 45,913 words
and symbols from 188 students from the University of Ghana and Valley View University within a period of 6
months. The study which was purely qualitative adopted a netnographic approach in studying the subject’s
online language choices. Findings revealed that three text modes-written, spoken (audio) and visual characterize
social media discourse and by and large computer mediated communication. Of these three, written mode
dominates the current data. In addition, the typology of Ghanaian University student’s online interaction spans
four linguistic levels-syntax, lexis, spelling and mechanics with several sub-categories. A detailed analysis of
the constituent elements of the sub-units revealed a colourful blend of generic discourse features identified in
the literature dotted with structural ingenuity of indigenous and GhAPE expressions to portray a unique
Ghanaian identity. Finally, replication of this study in other domains and ESL contexts is recommended to get
a holistic description of the phenomenon.}
    }