Shortcut in Communication: A Case of Aroko in Information and Communications Techonology (ICT)
Scholars have always discussed Àrokò in relation to the use of symbols, signs and material objects. These include salt, snail shells, horse tales, sword or cutlass, and gun, among others. Each of these symbols has its own interpretation. This present paper looks beyond the aforementioned symbols. While such symbols have to do with Yorùbá cultural way of communication, this paper discusses Àrokò in relation to Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Àrokò as one of the Yorùbá cultural ways of communication is encapsulated in symbols and signs. This cultural practice is a branch of Semiotics studied within the purview of Linguistic Anthropology. However, we are going to show in this paper that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has brought into being new forms of Àrokò which have made the old ones to give way to the modern ones. And that these modern ones which is the focus of this paper arerelated to the use of Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM) and are prevalent among the youth.
