A Case Study of Maswa and Bariadi Districts
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The University of Dodoma University of Dodoma Institutional Repository http://repository.udom.ac.tz Humanities Master Dissertations 2013 Challenges of using English language in the Tanzanian Agricultural sector: a case study of Maswa and Bariadi districts Matalu, Kulwa The University of Dodoma Matalu, K. (2013). Challenges of using English language in the Tanzanian Agricultural sector: a case study of Maswa and Bariadi districts. Dodoma: The University of Dodoma. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12661/1094 Downloaded from UDOM Institutional Repository at The University of Dodoma, an open access institutional repository. CHALLENGES OF USING ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN THE TANZANIAN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR CASE STUDY: MASWA AND BARIADI DISTRICTS Kulwa, Matalu A Dissertation Submitted in (Partial) Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Linguistics of the University of Dodoma. University Of Dodoma October, 2013 CERTIFICATION The undersigned certifies that she has read and hereby recommends for acceptance by the University of Dodoma a dissertation entitled Challenges of Using English Language in the Tanzanian Agricultural Sector; A Case of Maswa and Bariadi Districts in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Mater of Arts in Linguistics of the University of Dodoma. ……………………………………… Dr. Rafiki Yohana Sebonde (SUPERVISOR) Date…………………………….. i DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT I, Kulwa Matalu, declare that this dissertation is my own original work and that it has not been presented and will not be presented to any other University for a similar or any other degree award. Signature …………………………………… No part of this dissertation may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the author or the University of Dodoma. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I owe many thanks to the Almighty God for blessing to me. He offered me security in the course of data collection for I safely travelled to many different areas. I have been of good health condition since the onset of my studies – something that helped me engage fully in my studies without any kinds of interruption. My family whose health problems could directly impact my studies was in a good health too. Glory be to you my creator. I wish to express my sincere revered gratitude to my parents Masabuda Christina Bubinza and Matalu Hilya. They spent their meager income from peasant farms and livestock to ensure my success in my studies. I still remember their inspiring words in the times we encountered hardships as a family during the course of my studies. I yet remember their unique and creative endeavors that helped us get rid of such hardships. Ahsanteni sana wazazi wangu. So far, I thank very much my brothers: Kalumbete Israel Matalu and Chimaguli Selemani Matalu, my sisters Milembe Angelina Matalu, Yunge Yuritha Matalu, Lyongo Christina Matalu, Minza Martha Matalu (R.I.P), and my twin sister Dotto Leah Matalu. I am also indebted to my cousin Mbalu Joyce Isack for her unique assistance. Though very young, I appreciate her readiness to shoulder my responsibilities at home. Collectively, I thank you all for your material and spiritual support in my studies. Your tireless encouragements and patience really made this work materialize. In a special and unique way, I am very grateful to my supervisor Dr. Rafiki Yohana Sebonde for her tireless efforts in reading and proof reading this work right from its nascence to its maturity. Her timely return of drafts for correction did not only encourage but also motivated me to work hard. No matter how many drafts I submitted to her, she extensively read them. All these initiatives gave birth to this work. Thank you madam! iii I appreciate and value the contributions of my informants in all the districts from where I collected data. They gave freely of their time to participate in this study. Their kindness and forbearance made me courageous in facing different people with no regard to their political, social, or economic status. Foremost I thank Mr. Maiko Simon and Mr. Makenena K. Mtaki for distributing and collecting back the questionnaire in Maswa and Bariadi districts respectively. All, you were a key to the success of this study. Furthermore, I appreciate the support I got from local authorities in the areas of data collection. More distinctively, I thank very much Mr. Jonas C. Sima (Bariadi District Administrative Secretary) and Mr. Peter, D.C (Maswa District Adminstrative Secretary) for processing introduction letters and orienting me on the geographical divisions of their districts. The introduction letters they wrote for me enabled my visits to different parts of their districts and ensured security too. In kind, I am very delighted to my lecturers for their joint task of teaching and consultancy. I recognize and value their shares in this work. The series of lectures in different courses and times fortified me in the realm of academic writings. Kindly, let me mention them but not in order of importance: Prof. Casmir Rubagumya, Prof. Kulikoyela Kahigi (MP), Dr. Rose Upor, Dr. Pendo Malangwa, Dr. Rafiki Sebonde, and Dr. Patrick Musyoka, to you Shukrani nyingi sana! Lastly, but not least and in order of importance, many thanks to my fellow 2011 – 2013 M.A Linguistics students at the university of Dodoma and its community at large. They really made my studies run smoothly. The interactions with them were fruitful both socially and academically. Ahsanteni sana! None of all the people and institutions acknowledged shares the inadequacies of this work iv DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my parents Masabuda Christina Bubinza and Matalu Hilya v ABSTRACT The study investigated the challenges of using English language in the Tanzanian agricultural sector and examined the effectiveness of English – Swahili translation of agricultural information. It was conducted in Maswa and Bariadi districts. It covered farmers, pastoralists, agricultural officers (AOs), veterinary officers (VOs) and agricultural input suppliers/sellers (AIS). Semi structured interviews, questionnaires, in depth interviews and documentary reviews were used as methods of data collection. Through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and descriptive analysis, the study revealed that most farmers and pastoralists were not conversant with English language. They get help of interpreting the information expressed in the language from the AOs, VOs, and AIS. Inspite of being hampered by both physical and fiscal constraints to reach them, the AOs, and VOs can do. Many of the AIS can not interprete the English expressed agro information because the activity of selling agricultural remedies is done by whoever wanted to earn money from the business. The use of English language in the sector is also challenged by the sociolinguistic landscapes of Tanzania in which the Ethnic Community Languages (ECLs) are more dominant in rural areas where farmers and pastoralists transact their agricultural activities than even Swahili. Lack of linguistic expertise like improper choice of words, style and mode of presenting the information to the target audience is another challenge. The foreign status of English in the country makes it an inappropriate language of use in the sector. The English – Swahili translation of agricultural information was revealed to be deficient in conveying the intended information to the target group (TG). Basing on the findings, the study concluded that English is less appropriate language of use in the sector. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS CERTIFICATION ................................................................................................................ i DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT ............................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ iii DEDICATION ..................................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................ vi TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ xi LIST OF GRAPHS ............................................................................................................ xii LIST OF PHOTOS ........................................................................................................... xiii LIST OF MAPS ................................................................................................................ xiv CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................. 1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO THE STUDY ....................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Problem ........................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ..............................................................................................