Digital Identity and Morphological Productivity in the Igbo Language: Situating African Identity in a Technological Age
Conference: The 23rd Annual International Conference of the Igbo Studies Association (ISA) (2026)
Presenter(s): Felista Chidi Akidi, Goodnews Chinasa Ihezuonu
Presentation Date: May 16, 2026 @ 16:30 PM
Tags: Conference 2026
Abstract
As technology continues to transform communication across Africa, African languages are increasingly adapting to the linguistic demands of digital spaces. This study examines the relationship between digital identity and morphological productivity in the Igbo language, with particular attention to how Igbo users creatively generate, adapt, and circulate new linguistic forms in online environments. The study argues that digital communication has created new opportunities for the Igbo language to expand its expressive capacity through processes such as blending, affixation, compounding, abbreviation, calques, semantic extension, borrowing, and code-mixing. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected from oral interviews, online applications, and selected social media platforms. The analysis shows that Igbo speakers employ productive morphological strategies to name new technological realities, communicate cultural meanings, and negotiate identity in digital spaces. These strategies contribute to the visibility and accessibility of Igbo in contemporary digital communication while also affirming the language as a marker of African identity. The study further reveals that digital platforms are not merely spaces of communication but also sites of linguistic innovation. Through creative word formation and adaptive usage, Igbo users are able to situate their language within the technological age. The study concludes that morphological productivity plays a significant role in sustaining Igbo digital identity and strengthening the relevance of African languages in modern technological contexts.
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