Context, Implicature and Social Meaning in Nigerian Popular Slang: A Relevance-Theoretic Analysis of 2023 Media Discourse

This study examines the context, implied meaning, and social sense of popular slang through a relevance‑theoretic analysis of media talk in 2023. Earlier work has studied the grammar and social patterns of Nigerian slang. It has not focused much on the practical side. It has not focused much on how context and implied ideas shape social meaning. To fill that gap, the study used a design and selected eight popular Nigerian slang expressions that appeared in 2023 print media (Nigerian Tribune) and on Channels Television. The data were taken from those sources. Using Relevance Theory (Sperber & Wilson 1986/1995), the study examined the content, implied meaning, inference, and what makes the message useful. It shows how these Nigerian slang words gain power from shared ideas and the context people understand. The analysis shows that Nigerian slang in 2023 came out of social and economic conditions. It is used to express humour, urgency, a sense of togetherness, criticism and calls for accountability. Different social groups use these words as ways of speaking. From simple statements to sharp jokes. How people understand them depends a lot, on what is implied beyond the words themselves. It also depends on knowing the situation, the culture and the mindset of the speaker. The study ends by saying that Nigerian popular slang is not just words. It is a tool that speakers use to share experiences, challenge power and create social meaning. This shows how language can adapt to shared life.