Assessing Kibena (G 63) Endangerment Basing on Intergenerational Language Transmission Parameter
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The University of Dodoma University of Dodoma Institutional Repository http://repository.udom.ac.tz Social Sciences Master Dissertations 2014 Assessing Kibena (G 63) endangerment basing on intergenerational language transmission parameter Mgimba, Felician Boniface The University of Dodoma Mgimba, F. B. (2014). Assessing Kibena (G 63) endangerment basing on intergenerational language transmission parameter (Master's dissertation). The University of Dodoma, Dodoma. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12661/1934 Downloaded from UDOM Institutional Repository at The University of Dodoma, an open access institutional repository. ASSESSING KIBENA (G 63) ENDANGERMENT BASING ON INTERGENERATIONAL LANGUAGE TRANSMISSION PARAMETER By Felician Boniface Mgimba Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Linguistics of the University of Dodoma The University of Dodoma October, 2014 CERTIFICATION The undersigned certifies that she has read and hereby recommends for acceptance by the University of Dodoma dissertation entitled “Assessment of Kibena (G63) Endangerment Basing on Intergenerational Language Transmission Parameter” in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Linguistics of the University of Dodoma. ………………………………………………….. Dr. Rafiki .Y. Sebonde (SUPERVISOR) Date………………………………………. i DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT I, Felician Boniface Mgimba 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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This work could not reached the current form without the contribution of the committed individuals who sacrificed their time and efforts to make sure that my work becomes a reality. It will be unfair if I do not recognize their contribution. Therefore I commend their contribution by giving them my heartfelt recognition as follows: First, I thank the Almighty God creator of heaven and earth who protected and inspired me to do this work. He encouraged me to continue with this work even in difficult and desperate moments. Second, I sincerely feel indebted to acknowledge the great contribution of Dr. Rafiki .Y. Sebonde of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature of the University of Dodoma. She was my supervisor therefore she guided me in every stage of the preparation of this work without giving up. She had a lot of work to do ranging from class room teaching to supervising graduate works, but whenever I asked her for consultation she humbly accepted and advised me to the best of her knowledge. Apart from playing a role of a supervisor, she was also my classroom instructor. Being my classroom instructor she enlightened me about research methodology in humanities particularly in sociolinguistics. Really she deserves congratulations! Third, I must admit that my family, that is my wife Oliver Augustino Nyambo, my children; Felista and Thomas, and also my sister Irene Haule helped me to accomplish this work. They always created conducive environment for me to do the research work with maximum tranquility. They always made sure that I got all essential requirements, care and encouragement which necessitated the accomplishment of this work in time. They sometimes missed my love and presence especially during the time of my field data iii collection. Their contribution cannot be exhausted in this paragraph. I pray so that the Almighty God rewards them in abundance. Fourth, I acknowledge the contribution of my parents; that is my father Boniface Thomas Mgimba and my mother Isabella Anthony Mkinga, for their parental love and care. They also used their limited resources to support my education. Fifth, I feel proud to be among the products of prominent linguists, who taught me different linguistics courses when pursuing my course work. The linguists who deserve this special reference are Prof. Casmir Rubagumya, Prof. Kulikoyela Kahigi and Dr. Rose Upor of the University of Dar es salaam. It is also my pleasure to thank Dr. Elias Songhoyi who was the coordinator of postgraduate programmes of the School of Humanities for his academic advice. The commitment of all these prominent personalities made my dreams of becoming one of the linguists a reality. Sixth, I wish to acknowledge the contribution of my employer, The University of Dodoma, for supporting my studies and giving me time to fulfill my obligations as a student. The principal of the College of Education (COED), Dean of the School of Curriculum and Teacher Education and the Head of the Department of Language, Fine and Performing Arts Education (LFPAE) also deserve special thanks for supporting my studies. More over my fellow staff members of the COED especially those of my department deserve a word of thanks. Seventh, I wish to acknowledge the contribution of some committed individuals whose devoted efforts led me to reach this academic level. These individuals are late Adelhem Thomas Mgimba may the Almighty God rest his soul in eternal peace, Mr. Alfred A. Mkinga my uncle and Rev. Fr.Xaver Mlelwa the former parish priest of Madunda Parish iv of Njombe Catholic Diocese. All these individuals sponsored my studies at different levels of education. Finally, I must acknowledge the office of the Njombe district commissioner, the village leaders in three villages where I conducted my research; Uwemba, Mtwango and Kidugala. I also thank my MA (Linguistics) classmates of 2012/2013 for their cooperation when pursuing our course work and all individuals whose names are not mentioned here but have contributed in one way or another to the accomplishment of this work. vii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my late young sister Vera Boniface Mgimba who passed away in June, 2009 when I was pursuing my undergraduate degree at Tumaini University Makumira, may the Almighty God rest her soul in eternal peace, Amen! viii viii viii ABSTRACT This work aimed at assessing Kibena endangerment basing on intergenerational language transmission parameter. The researcher worked on three objectives which were; domains of its use, the role of intermarriages and speakers‟ attitudes as a motivating factor behind transmitting it to younger generations. He carried out this study in Uwemba, Mtwango and Kidugala villages in Njombe and Wanging‟ombe districts in Southern Highlands of Tanzania. In the study, the researcher used both quantitative and qualitative methods. He used questionnaires to collect quantitative data. It is through this method where data were gathered and analyzed quantitatively to get percentages, frequencies (recurring numbers) and tables which reflected the endangerment status of Kibena basing on the three variables investigated. The researcher also used interviews and participant observation (qualitative methods) to gather information which supplemented those collected through questionnaires. The study revealed that Kibena is on grade two (2) of endangerment when focusing on domains of its use, meaning that it has limited domains of use. Kibena is also on stage 3 of endangerment that is it is definitively endangered when considering the role of intermarried speakers on transmitting it to younger generations. Basing on its speakers‟ attitudes it is on grade 3 of endangerment, signifying that many of Kibena members support its maintenance but few of them are indifferent and support its loss. The general conclusion considering the interplay of the assessment of all three objectives by rating on the LVEAG UNESCO (2003) factor number one, Kibena is definitively endangered. This means that its intergenerational transmission is delinked, since the language is used mostly by parental generations and upwards. This work has greatly contributed to reveal the endangerment status of the language to date. This situation alerts Kibena speakers and other stake holders to take deliberate measures to rescue it from further endangerment. ix ix TABLE OF CONTENTS CERTIFICATION ............................................................................................................... i DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT.............................................................................. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................. v DEDICATION .................................................................................................................viii ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... ix TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................... x LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... xiv LIST OF MAPS ................................................................................................................ xv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ........................................................ xvi CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................. 1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ................................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction..................................................................................................................