Language Choice Among the Havu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Comparing Two Speech Communities- an Urban Center and an Isolated Island
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Dallas International University Thesis Approval Sheet This thesis, entitled Language Choice among the Havu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Comparing two speech communities- an urban center and an isolated island written by Stephanie A.C. DeWitt and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts with major in Language and Culture Studies has been approved by the undersigned members of the faculty of Dallas International University. Mashe gan ormlons Lynn Landweer (Supervising Professor) Peter Useth Rob McKee Date LANGUAGE CHOICE AMONG THE HAVU OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: COMPARING TWO SPEECH COMMUNITIES - AN URBAN CENTER AND AN ISOLATED ISLAND By Stephanie A.C. DeWitt Presented to the Faculty of Dallas International University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts with major in Language and Culture Studies Dallas International University December 2019 © 2019 Stephanie A.C. DeWitt All Rights Reserved CERTIFICATE I acknowledge that use of copyrighted material in my thesis may place me under an obligation to the copyright owner, especially when use of such material exceeds usual fair use provisions. I hereby certify that I have obtained the written permission of the copyright owner for any and all such occurrences and that no portion of my thesis has been copyrighted previously unless properly referenced. I hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless Dallas International University from any and all claims that may be asserted or that may arise from any copyright violation. Stgnathre Bl2a/2019 Date THESIS DUPLICATION RELEASE I hereby authorize Dallas International University to duplicate this thesis when needed for research and/or scholarship. Agreed: Refused: ABSTRACT LANGUAGE CHOICE AMONG THE HAVU OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: COMPARING TWO SPEECH COMMUNITIES - AN URBAN CENTER AND AN ISOLATED ISLAND Stephanie A.C. DeWitt Master of Arts with major in Language and Culture Studies Dallas International University, December 2019 Supervising Professor: Dr. Lynn Landweer This thesis provides an analysis of current language choices self-reported by Havu participants within the domain of the Havu Christian churches in the urban center of Goma compared with the geographically isolated Idjwi Island. Through interviewing twenty participants at three separate sites in each location, for a total of one hundred and twenty participants, six factors currently affecting language choice in the Havu speech communities of Goma and Idjwi Island emerged. These factors include: (1) intergenerational transmission, (2) language attitude, (3) language contact, (4) social networks, (5) identity, and (6) geographic location. Through analysis of these factors two different status levels were identified for the speech communities on the EGIDS. Within the urban center of Goma, the Havu language is at level 6b and showing signs of being threatened. While on Idjwi Island the Havu language is at level 6a, an orally sustainable level. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I must acknowledge Sarah Uzamukunda, my research assistant, without whom none of this would be possible. Next, Dr. Lynn Landweer, who was with me throughout my graduate school experience. Her guidance has helped shaped me into the sociolinguist that I am, as well as, given me continually higher standards to aspire to. I am also grateful to Dr. Rob McKee and Dr. Peter Unseth for providing me with guidance that always made me think and work harder. I would also like to acknowledge Dallas International University. Without a university designed to work with people in my situation I would not have been able to complete the requirements for this program. Next, to all of my friends and family that supported me and helped me edit this thesis: Amanda Welch, Hannahlea DeWitt, Hex DeWitt, Melvin Nichols, Jr., Richard Watkins, Alex Windle, Tammy Cortimilia, Abigail Roberts, Cate Burnett-Fierbaugh, Julia Anne McCord, and my fellow classmates. Also, to my Congolese friends who provided insight and information that I would otherwise not have access to: Robert Mwanjale, Piro Bahati, David Muimbya, Baltizars Kighoma, Joseph Mushunganya, and many more. Finally, I must acknowledge the Seed Company. I have been employed through the Seed Company for five years. The work that I do in this role has been the motivation and foundation for this thesis. Without the support of this organization and my supervisors there I would not have been able to start let alone finish this work. Thank you all so very much. August 2019 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... VI ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................VII TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................ VIII LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... X LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... XI ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................XII 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................1 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND ETHNOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ........12 2.1 Background Information .....................................................................................12 2.2 Ethnographic Information ...................................................................................21 3 LITERATURE REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTS ...........29 3.1 Summary of available Literature concerning the Havu ....................................29 3.2 Development of Constructs ..................................................................................35 4 METHODOLOGY AND MEASUREMENT .......................................................50 4.1 Development of the Measurement Tool ..............................................................50 4.2 Selection of Interview Sites ..................................................................................58 4.3 Selection of Volunteers .........................................................................................62 4.4 Analyzing the Data ................................................................................................65 5 INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION AND LANGUAGE ATTITUDE .......... 67 5.1 Intergenerational Transmission ..........................................................................67 viii 5.2 Language Attitude ................................................................................................70 6 LANGUAGE CONTACT .....................................................................................126 6.1 Goma ....................................................................................................................127 6.2 Idjwi Island ..........................................................................................................138 6.3 Contact with written materials ..........................................................................145 7 SOCIAL NETWORK.............................................................................................154 7.1 Goma ....................................................................................................................159 7.2 Idjwi Island ..........................................................................................................172 8 IDENTITY AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION .................................................195 8.1 Identity .................................................................................................................195 8.2 Geographic Location ..........................................................................................201 9 CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................204 9.1 Current Kihavu Use in Goma and on Idjwi Island .........................................204 9.2 Geographic and Social Factors affecting Kihavu Language Use Patterns ....206 9.3 Current Level of Language Vitality and How the Speech Communities Compare .210 9.4 Implications for the Future ................................................................................213 9.5 Areas for further study .......................................................................................217 APPENDIX A .................................................................................................................222 APPENDIX B .................................................................................................................228 APPENDIX C .................................................................................................................231 WORKS CITED.............................................................................................................232 VITA................................................................................................................................236 ix LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Nyindu Territories and Villages in South Kivu....................................................5 Figure 2: Kobo, Nyanga, and Tembo Territories in North Kivu .........................................7 Figure 3: Map of Lake Kivu