Ke Mopitori: A sociolinguistic analysis of slang expressions among the youth of Pretoria

Ke Mopitori: A sociolinguistic analysis of slang expressions among the youth of Pretoria

Koketso Botlholo , Muthuhadini Lufuno Muavha & Itumeleng Shoke

Issue: Vol. 7 No.6 2026 Article 17 pp. 1666 –1676
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267617 Published online 23rd July 2026

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ABSTRACT

Slang, as a predominant form of informal language, has been widely used in Mabopane society for decades. This study investigates the sociolinguistics of slang among the youth of Mabopane, Pretoria, with a particular focus on the slang expressions they use, the reasons for their use, and the social contexts in which these expressions occur. Although slang plays a significant role in everyday communication and identity formation among young people, it remains an underexplored area in Sociolinguistics. Therefore, the study contributes to ongoing scholarly discussions on language variation, youth identity, and informal language practices in South African communities. A qualitative and quantitative research approach was used using questionnaires distributed through purposive sampling to youth participants in Mabopane. Of the 100 questionnaires distributed, 83 were completed and returned. A total of 349 slang expressions were collected and analysed thematically and sociolinguistically. The findings reveal that Mabopane youth use slang extensively to describe people, activities, emotions, social behaviours, and everyday experiences. Slang was found to serve various functions, including identity construction, group solidarity, secrecy, creativity, and social belonging. However, the study also found that excessive use of slang may negatively affect learners’ academic language proficiency and formal communication skills. The study recommends further research on the linguistic and structural features of Mabopane slang, broader documentation of slang expressions, and the compilation of a Mabopane Slang Dictionary. The study contributes to scholarship by expanding knowledge on youth language practices and highlighting the sociocultural significance of slang within South African township communities.

Keywords: Slang, Communication, Language, Identity, Sociolinguistics, Society, Youth, Informal Language

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Mr Koketso Botlholo is an Ngap lecturer in the Department of Language and Social Sciences Education at the Central University of Technology, South Africa. he is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education at the Central University of Technology and a PhD in Language Education at the University of the Free State. His research interests include language education, African languages, multilingualism, literacy development, teacher education, culturally responsive pedagogy, and language policy in education. His scholarly work focuses on promoting effective language teaching and learning in multilingual and culturally diverse educational contexts.

Mr. Itumeleng Shoke is an adjunct lecturer at the University of South Africa. He holds a Master of Arts degree cum laude from the University of the Witwatersrand, where he completed his dissertation entirely in Setswana. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of the Witwatersrand. His research interests include Setswana language preservation, Setswana linguistic structure, morphology and phonology, indigenous knowledge systems, and the promotion of African languages in education. His scholarly work is dedicated to advancing the status, development, and sustainability of Setswana within academic and educational contexts.

Dr. Lufuno Muthuhadini Muavha is a lecturer in African Languages at the Tshwane University of Technology. He holds a PhD from the University of South Africa. His research interests include language and gender, onomastics, sociolinguistics, multilingualism, language education, discourse studies, indigenous knowledge systems, and African language development. His scholarship explores the intersection of language, identity, culture, and society, with particular attention to the role of African languages in education and social transformation. He has contributed to research and teaching that advance linguistic and cultural diversity in South Africa.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Botlholo, Koketso, Muthuhadini Lufuno Muavha, and Itumeleng Shoke. “Ke Mopitori: A sociolinguistic analysis of slang expressions among the youth of Pretoria,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.6 (2026): 1666 – 1676. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267617