THE ROLE OF INTERNET COMMUNICATION IN SHAPING LANGUAGE IN AMERICANAH

The rapid advancement of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has reshaped human communication and influenced literary expression. Despite the richness of internet-mediated language and style, there is limited scholarly attention on their linguistic features and literary relevance. This study investigates the use of internet-mediated language and stylistic devices in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah. Adopting the Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) framework, which differentiates between synchronous modes (telephone conversations, instant messaging) and asynchronous modes (e-mails, blogs, text messages), the study examines how these forms are employed in the novel. Using judgemental sampling, Americanah was selected as the primary source, complemented by secondary data from journals, textbooks, dissertations, and other relevant literature. Data were analyzed by identifying and classifying internet-mediated features into blogs, e-mails, text messages, and telephone conversations. The findings reveal that internet-mediated communication (IMC) enhances narrative efficiency and immediacy compared to traditional letters. Additionally, the domestication of ICT-specific jargon in the novel underscores the relevance of digital language in contemporary literature. The study also demonstrates that IMC represents a modern stylistic approach effectively utilized by Adichie. The insights from this research are significant for students, scholars, and researchers in English, Linguistics, Mass Communication, ICT, and Literature, providing a framework for understanding the interplay between technology and literary creativity