Female Varieties of Ghanaian Youth Language

Abstract

Youth language scholarship has often centred on male-dominated, mixed-gender urban contexts, reinforcing the assumption that males drive linguistic innovation. This study challenges that narrative by examining the creativity, social functions, and gendered dynamics of youth language among young women in three female-only tertiary institutions in Ghana. Drawing on qualitative interviews, observations, and focus group discussions, the analysis highlights female students’ metalinguistic reflections, motivations, and the social meanings of their linguistic choices. The findings reveal a vibrant linguistic culture marked by humour, playfulness, secrecy, and identity work. The young women actively construct expressive codes to foster belonging, manage emotions, and negotiate gendered expectations. Their innovation flourishes without male peers, contesting the view that youth language is inherently male-driven. This study broadens global scholarship on youth language by highlighting female-only spaces as fertile grounds for linguistic creativity and calls for recognition of hidden, intimate practices as legitimate and influential forms of youth language.