Expressing Thoughts and Feelings on WhatsApp Status Through the use of Language

Alberta Aseye Ama  Duhoe; Calvin Mawuli  Attricki; Kwami  Akpeleasi

doi:10.48165/jes.2021.37.2.5

Authors

Alberta Aseye Ama Duhoe Department of Literature, Languages and Linguistics Kenyatta University, Nairobi,
Calvin Mawuli Attricki Languages Departments, Peki College of Education, Peki, Ghana,
Kwami Akpeleasi Department of Languages, Jasikan College of Education, Jasikan, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/jes.2021.37.2.5

Keywords:

Feelings, Thoughts, WhatsApp Status, English, Ewe

Abstract

The advent of technology and the internet has revolutionized how people communicate with each other. Smartphones have further simplified communication between people as individuals can easily communicate with people far from them instantly and cheaply using language. In present paper, the focus is on the use of language used to communicate feelings and thoughts on WhatsApp status update, how they feature and whether it is an effective platform for communicating one’s intended message to the target audience. A qualitative online interview approach was purposefully used to collect data from five respondents who wrote their status in Ewe and ten others who wrote theirs in English in selected Ghanaian communities were sampled. Data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed that the respondents used either texts or images in their updates in ether English or Ewe. Messages were expressive, directive, commissive, or declarative. The respondents also perceived the WhatsApp status platform to be effective in passing their messages to the intended parties.

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