SOCIOLINGUISTIC DISCOURSE AND COURSE SELECTION AMONG GEN Z STUDENTS IN NIGERIAN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS: IS IDEOLOGY DRIVING ENROLLMENT DECLINE IN ENGLISH AND LITERARY STUDIES?

Nwabueze, Ijeoma Nina and Ugwu, Sabina Ogechukwu (2026) SOCIOLINGUISTIC DISCOURSE AND COURSE SELECTION AMONG GEN Z STUDENTS IN NIGERIAN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS: IS IDEOLOGY DRIVING ENROLLMENT DECLINE IN ENGLISH AND LITERARY STUDIES? GOUNI INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, AND PEDAGOGY (GIJELP), 1 (1). : 45-57.

[img] Text
PUBLISHED Paper+SOCIOLINGUISTIC+DISCOURSE+AND+COURSE+SELECTION+AMONG+GEN+Z+STUDENTS.pdf
Download (294kB)

Abstract

This study examined sociolinguistic discourses and their influence on course selection among Gen Z students in Nigerian higher institutions, with particular attention to whether ideology is driving the decline in enrollment in English and Literary Studies. Anchored in Language Ideology Theory propounded by Michael Silverstein, the study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised all first year students of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, during the 2025/2026 academic session, while the major population was drawn from the Faculties of Management and Social Sciences and Law. Using stratified random sampling with equal allocation, a sample of eighty students was selected. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire validated by experts and analysed using mean and standard deviation, with a cut off mean score of 2.50 for decision making. Findings revealed that dominant sociolinguistic ideologies frame English and Literary Studies as less prestigious, less practical, and economically unrewarding when compared to other disciplines. Language ideology significantly influenced students’ course choices, as societal expectations and perceived employability outweighed personal interest. Digital culture further shaped academic identity by promoting informal language practices and alternative career pathways that reduce interest in traditional literary disciplines. The study concludes that enrollment decline is largely ideological, reinforced by utilitarian narratives and digital discourse, rather than by outright rejection of the discipline.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics
Divisions: Faculty of Arts > Faculty of Law > Faculty of Management and Social Sciences > Faculty of Education
Depositing User: Uchenna Eneogwe
Date Deposited: 01 Jun 2026 14:24
Last Modified: 01 Jun 2026 14:24
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5710

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
GOUNI Repository is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.