E. O. IKOYO-EWETO

This project work examines the communication strategies employed by AI-driven chatbots and their effects on user interactions. In an era where conversational AI systems such as ChatGPT, Meta AI, Google Assistant, Gemini, and Replika are increasingly integrated into everyday communication, understanding how these systems shape human-machine interactions has become crucial. The purpose of this study was to analyze the communicative behaviors of chatbots through the lens of Grice's Cooperative Principle and the Social Presence Theory, with the aim of identifying the strategies they use, assessing their effectiveness, and evaluating their influence on user trust, engagement, and satisfaction. The motivation for this research arises from the growing role of chatbots not only as information providers but also as relational companions, raising questions about both their benefits and their risks in human communication. Chatbot-user conversations were collected and critically analyzed to evaluate how responses adhered to Grice's maxims of Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner, while also examining how chatbots projected social presence through empathy, personalization, and human-like responses. The study also identified communication strategies such as personalization, empathy framing, positive reframing, immediacy of response, and explanatory clarity. The findings
revealed that chatbots generally adhere to the Cooperative Principle by providing relevant, clear, and concise responses, though occasional lapses occur in the form of repetition and overgeneralized statements. Through Social Presence Theory, the study found that chatbots successfully simulate human-like warmth and empathy, creating a sense of companionship and
trust for users. The research recommends that chatbot developers integrate more adaptive communication strategies that balance factual accuracy with empathy and personalization. By doing so, AI-driven systems can strengthen both the cognitive and emotional dimensions of user interaction, leading to improved satisfaction, trust, and long-term adoption.

This study explores the intricate effects of family norms on language use - using the Igbo language as a case study. The theoretical framework employed in this research work is the Ethnography of Communication SPEAKING model proposed by Dell Hymes of 1964.This theoretical framework was deemed suitable and appropriate for this research because it shows that communication is a comprehensive and intricate act that requires an expect manipulation on the part of the speaker and good listening skills on the addressee’s part. Oral data were gathered through an oral interview from adult male and female within the ages of forty (40) - sixty (70) years and above of the Igbo language native speakers. Some of the findings of this research includes that in the Igbo family, idioms and metaphor could be employed to share experiences and impact wisdom indirectly. For example, the idiom “mmada aburo chukwu” (No one is God). Also, the intricate interplay between politeness, respect and hierarchy within an Igbo family profoundly influences language use. This linguistics etiquette sustains the rich cultural heritage, fosters strong bonds and upholds the values and harmony across generations. Also, in conversation, it is customary to acknowledge elders first before addressing others. This demonstrates hierarchical structure and respect for age. Depending on the time of day, customary greeting such as “ututu oma” (good morning) or “Ehihi oma” (good morning) are exchanged as a sign of respect for age.