Effects of Emojis on Paralanguage in Social Media Communication among Students in Federal Polytechnics in South-South, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the effects of emojis on paralanguage in social media communication among students in federal Polytechnics in South-South, Nigeria. With the rapid growth of digital interaction, emojis have become an essential element of online discourse, functioning as non-verbal cues that supplement written language. Five research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. This research used the Socio-Semiotic Perspective theory. This is an appropriate theoretical framework for this study because it comprehensively addresses the social and cultural dimensions of communication, crucial for understanding how meaning is constructed and negotiated through various semiotic resources, including emojis. Survey research design was used in the study. The area of the study was South-South, Nigeria. The study population was 10,788 ND 2 students from four federal Polytechnics in South-South, Nigeria out of which 381 was sampled using Krejcie and Morgan population and sample frame. A structured questionnaire known as “effects of emojis on paralanguage in social media communication among students Questionnaire (EEPSMCSQ)” was used in collecting data for the study. A pilot test was conducted using 30 students from a federal Polytechnic outside the main study area. The data generated was analyzed using dependent t-test analysis to answer the research questions and test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that emoji usage significantly affects paralanguage in social media communication. It revealed that emojis enhance message interpretation while excessive use negatively impacts grammatical accuracy, vocabulary development, and formal writing proficiency. The study concluded that while emojis improve clarity and emotional expression in informal contexts, their misuse can lead to misunderstandings and the transfer of informal habits into academic writing. It recommended among others that students should be educated on the appropriate use of emojis in informal as well as formal contexts.