Application of Digital Technology in the Understanding of Young Adult Literature.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue IV, April 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Application of Digital Technology in the Understanding of Young Adult Literature.

Diala Edwin Lionel¹, Prof. Ikechukwu Akude², Ike Chinyere Mariagoratti³ and Ohanaka Bethrand Uchenna^3
1Department of Language and Humanities, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri.
²Imo State University Owerri
³Department of ICT Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri.

Abstract: Digital communications are thoughtfully influencing young adult communications. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how young adult novels portray digital communications features using text messages, e-mails, or blogs. This study explores adult authors’ representations of characters in young adult literature (YAL) using digital communication like text messaging, blogs, instant messaging (IM), social networking websites, and email. The argument is that digital communication presents a new feature of young adult literature which has not yet been satisfactorily and adequately explored. The paper examines how the incidence of digital communication in contemporary society is signified in texts developed for the teens by illustrating who, what, and why of digital communication found in the texts. The paper also examines meta-themes available in the texts as the characters themselves reveal how digital communication impacts their life. The study found that the young adult literature texts used many forms of communication to maintain the narrative voice including blogs, e-mail, IM, text messages and social networking sites. The themes of establishing interpersonal connections, constructing identity and relationships with family were also illustrated and portrayed through the texts.

Keywords: Blogs, Digital Communication, E-Mail, Young Adult Literature

I. INTRODUCTION

Literature reflects life, hence the creative writer cannot write outside his experience. It communicates thoughts, ideas and experiences to the reader and maintains effort in communication. The creative writer interprets life and writes in a creative and imaginative form. Duruaku (2019), notes that literature is embellished with beauty and aesthetics through the use of words. The young adult literature is referred to as adolescent fiction. Mallika and Jayakaran (2013) describe young adult literature as literature that is in some way connected with the young adult. Commenting on his, they note that the evolutionary path of young adult literature spans several centuries. Owen (2003) and Yongan (2008) identifies the characteristics of young adult literature that relate so closely to the issues faced in young adulthood that have also made young literature highly relevant to the young adult, thus making it favoured as selected reading material for young adult students in many countries.
The young adult literature according to Dike (2005) plays the role in encouraging reading and helping to develop reading habits and skills for lifelong education and growth. Literature

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