INTER-DIALECT MAINTENANCE AND SHIFT IN THE CONTACT OF LUBUKUSU AND LUTACHONI WILLIAM BARASA WANJALA C50/12629/2009 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS (ENGLISH AND LINGUISTICS) OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OCTOBER 2014 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university or any other award. Signature: ___________________ Date: _____________ William Barasa Wanjala- C50/12629/2009 Department of English and Linguistics DECLARATION We confirm that the work reported in this thesis was carried out by the student under our supervision. Signature: _________________________________Date: _____________ Dr Hilda U. Kebeya Department of English and Linguistics Kenyatta University Signature: ________________________________ Date: _____________ Dr. Caleb. Shivachi Department of English and Linguistics Kenyatta University ii DEDICATION To my mum Emelda Nyalisi Wanjala: you fought a heart complication boldly. That aside, you taught me and ensured that I maintained mother tongue. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This research was like a journey into the wilderness to search for a treasure for the world. I needed the mercies of God. I thank God for his grace upon me. I wish to acknowledge my supervisors Dr Hilda Kebeya and Dr Caleb Shivachi of the Department of English and Linguistics, Kenyatta University. Your insightful suggestions, encouragement and patience, made this work a success. I also thank Dr Martin C. Njoroge and Dr Daniel Orwenjo for final insights and overseeing the completion of this work. I also owe my credit to my wife Elizabeth, my children Sybil, Audrey and Hosea for the patience you displayed all the time I was away for this study. My father Simon Wanjala, you persistently pumped inspiration into me. You denied yourself even your basic needs in order to support me financially. I was encouraged to study hard. Thank you so much. I thank my brothers for encouragement, notably Lawrence and your wife Roselyda. I remember you gave me accommodation in Nairobi while preparing the final draft, God bless you. iv Table of Contents DECLARATION ................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ...................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................. x LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................... xi OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF TERMS ................................................ xii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ........................................................... xiv ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... xvi CHAPTER ONE ..................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 1.0 Introduction......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the study ..................................................................................... 1 1.2 Luhya Language and its speakers ..................................................................... 13 1.3 Statement of the problem. ................................................................................. 14 1.4 Objectives of the study ..................................................................................... 17 1.5 Research questions............................................................................................ 17 1.6 Research assumptions ....................................................................................... 17 1.7 Justification of the study ................................................................................... 18 1.8 Scope and limitations of the study .................................................................... 21 1.9 Summary of chapter one ................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................. 24 LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ............... 24 v 2.0 Introduction....................................................................................................... 24 2.1 Language maintenance and shift ...................................................................... 24 2.2 Factors in language maintenance and shift. ...................................................... 29 2.3 Dialect dominance ............................................................................................ 31 2.4 Domains of language use .................................................................................. 32 2.5 Relationship between societal institutions and domains. ................................. 36 2.6 Age and language ............................................................................................. 37 2.7.0 Theoretical framework................................................................................... 39 2.7.1 Ethnolinguistic Vitality Theory ..................................................................... 39 2.7.1.1 Demographic factors. .................................................................................. 41 2.7.1.2 Status factors ............................................................................................... 43 2.7.1.3 Institutional support .................................................................................... 45 2.7.2 Domain theory ............................................................................................... 46 2.9 Summary of chapter two ................................................................................... 49 CHAPTER THREE .............................................................................................. 50 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 50 3.0 Introduction....................................................................................................... 50 3.1 Research Design ............................................................................................... 50 3.2 Geographical location of the study ................................................................... 53 3.3 Target population .............................................................................................. 55 3.4 Sample size and Sampling procedure ............................................................... 55 3.5 Research Instruments ........................................................................................ 57 3.6 Data collection methods ................................................................................... 58 vi 3.6.1 Procedure ....................................................................................................... 58 3.6.2 Data collection ............................................................................................... 58 3.6.3 Ethical considerations .................................................................................... 59 3.7 Piloting .............................................................................................................. 59 3.8 Validity and reliability of instruments .............................................................. 60 3.9 Data analysis and presentation.......................................................................... 61 3.10 Summary of chapter three ............................................................................... 62 CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................ 63 4.0 Introduction....................................................................................................... 63 4.1 Dominant dialect ............................................................................................... 64 4.1.1 Home domain................................................................................................. 64 4.1.2 Cultural domain ............................................................................................. 66 4.1.3 Social domain ................................................................................................ 71 4.1.4 Religion/Worship domain .............................................................................. 73 4.1.5. Education domain ......................................................................................... 77 4.1.6 Business domain ............................................................................................ 80 4.1.7 Government services domain ........................................................................ 82 4.1.8 Road/Street domain. ...................................................................................... 85 4.1.9 Mass Media domain. ...................................................................................... 88 4.2 Relationship between the dominance of language varieties and societal institutional support ...............................................................................................