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An Exploration of Linguistic Practices and Language Attitudes in Gulu, Northern Uganda

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An Exploration of Linguistic Practices and Language Attitudes in Gulu, Northern Uganda Living with Language: An Exploration of Linguistic Practices and Language Attitudes in Gulu, Northern Uganda Inaugural Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Philosophischen Fakultät der Universität zu Köln im Fach Afrikanistik vorgelegt von Steffen Lorenz geboren in Lutherstadt Wittenberg Köln 2019 First Reviewer: Prof. Dr. Gerrit J. Dimmendaal, Universität zu Köln Second Reviewer: Prof. Dr. Anne Storch, Universität zu Köln Third Reviewer: Prof. Dr. Thomas Widlok, Universität zu Köln This Dissertation was accepted by the Philosophischen Fakultät der Universität zu Köln in April 2018. Date of oral defense: July 16th, 2018 ii Acknowledgments This thesis would never have come into existence without the help and support of many institutions and individuals. The very first mentions must go to the people of Gulu. First and foremost, those who agreed to take part in the study, by taking the questionnaire, granting interviews, opening their doors, offering me a place to sit and observe or offering insights in countless conversations. They are the protagonists of this study and heavily influenced the direction it took. However, there were also my neighbours and friends. I must give special thanks to Denish, Patrick, Cathy, Obina, Reagan and Alfred, who became my friends and main social support. I am also highly grateful to the Golden Gate Hotel and its staff, that made their hotel my home away from home. Besides the people of Gulu, I want to thank my supervisors for allowing me to pursue a project that was outside the usual scope of African linguistics. Prof. Gerrit J. Dimmendaal offered me an open ear and great advice throughout the entire process and not once discouraged me from following my own ideas. For the many hours he spent in discussions with me or reading and advising on my thesis I will be forever grateful. I additionally must thank Prof. Anne Storch, who as my second supervisor continuously challenged my methods, theories and assumptions. Her help was also critical in the development of the project, as she contributed ideas and reflections that became integral elements of the final research outline. Further, I thank my colleagues and here especially PD Helma Pasch, Dr. Maren Rüsch, and PD Angelika Mietzner from the Institute for African Studies at the University of Cologne, as well as my friend and colleague Dr. Susanne Mohr from the Department of English, American and Celtic Studies at the University of Bonn, who in conversations, during workshops, at conferences and in common projects challenged and encouraged me in my thinking and work. Special thanks go to Jun.-Prof. Nico Nassenstein from the Institut für Ethnologie und Afrikastudien at the Johannes-Gutenberg- University Mainz, who besides being a wonderful colleague was also a great friend. Further, I want to thank my family. They supported me not only during the time of my research and during my long stays away from home in a country that they had never heard of before, but also in my rather unconventional choice of studying Afrikanistik. A thank you also goes to my closest friends, who shared with me in the good times, but also supported me during my many times of doubt and struggle. I also want to thank my fiancée, who became my emotional rock and with her insistence was a constant source of motivation during the finalisation of this thesis. Finally, I want to thank the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung for supporting me and my research economically with a stipend and for introducing me to their wonderful network in Germany and across the world. That includes the FES-office in Kampala, which offered me assistance and a iii place to work when I first came to Uganda. Additionally, I want to thank Dr. Saudah Namyalo and the Department for African Linguistics at the Makerere University in Kampala for their help in realising the project and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology for granting me my research permit and allowing me to conduct this study. iv Table of contents Images ................................................................................................................................. vii Maps .................................................................................................................................... vii Tables ................................................................................................................................. viii Figures .................................................................................................................................. ix Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................... xi Part I. Introduction and Socio‐Historic Background ..................................1 1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 2 1.1. Approaches, theories and methods ................................................................. 7 1.2. Thematic focus and key concepts ................................................................ 10 1.2.1. Repertoires and speech community ............................................................. 11 1.2.2. Ideologies and attitudes ................................................................................ 13 1.3. Methodology ................................................................................................ 21 1.4. Naming conventions ..................................................................................... 30 1.5. Ethical considerations .................................................................................. 33 1.6. Thesis structure ............................................................................................ 35 2. The history and politics of ethnicity and language ...................................... 37 2.1. Demographics of Uganda ............................................................................. 37 2.2. A short history .............................................................................................. 39 2.3. The languages of Uganda ............................................................................. 43 2.3.1. The state of multilingualism ......................................................................... 45 2.3.2. Language policy in Uganda ......................................................................... 46 2.4. The Acholi region and language .................................................................. 51 2.4.1. The genesis of the Acholi ............................................................................. 52 2.4.2. The Acholi language .................................................................................... 55 2.5. The city of Gulu ........................................................................................... 56 Part II. Linguistic Practices and Social Networks in Space ...................... 59 3. Language in space ........................................................................................ 60 3.1. Looking for Linguistic Landscapes .............................................................. 61 3.1.1. Language on display in Gulu. ...................................................................... 62 3.1.2. An ecology of public writing ....................................................................... 71 3.2. The sounds of the city .................................................................................. 73 3.2.1. Talking radio ................................................................................................ 74 3.2.2. The Gulu music scene .................................................................................. 80 3.3. Exploring markets and businesses................................................................ 84 3.3.1. Shops, private businesses and offices .......................................................... 86 3.3.2. Visiting the markets ..................................................................................... 90 3.4. The role of language in religious communities in Gulu ............................... 95 3.4.1. The Catholic Church .................................................................................... 97 3.4.2. With the Watoto Church ............................................................................ 101 3.4.3. Making room for Kiswahili ........................................................................ 104 3.5. Capturing regimes of language .................................................................. 106 4. Network approaches ................................................................................... 109 4.1. Core Discussion Networks ......................................................................... 114 v 4.1.1. CDN-data ................................................................................................... 115 4.1.2. CDN results and patterns ........................................................................... 130 4.2. Telling stories with networks ..................................................................... 133 4.2.1. Four people and four stories ....................................................................... 136 4.2.2. Finding opportunities and challenges ......................................................... 147 Part III. Experiencing Language and Performing Attitudes .................... 149 5. Language Biographies ...............................................................................
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