Short Abstract:

The study of youth language and the linguistic practices of youth in the African continent and in the diaspora is a rich field that has been expanding and deepening in recent years. Linguistic analyses of named ‘urban’ youth varieties constitute a key area of investigation in relation to not only descriptions of grammatical structure and the relation to different types of languages, but also the investigation of lexical etymologies and manipulation strategies such as metaphor, alongside the role of youth language and its related strategies in social and peer contexts. There have been several publications that have focused specifically on metaphor in African Youth Language over recent years. These include research employing cognitive metaphor theory, contribution of youth languages to base language idiomatic language change, the use of word, sentence, and social metaphor in Tsotsitaal, the role of generational peer groups and contemporary pop culture in the production of metaphors, sexual metaphors amongst Nigerian youth, etc.