Chapter 1 ASSESSMENT OF LANGUAGE SHIFT AMONG THE YOUTH IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA KIMANI ROSEMARY WAMAITHA A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN LINGUISTICS OF KARATINA UNIVERSITY SEPTEMBER, 2019 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a conferment of a degree in any other university or for any other award. Signature………………………….. Date………………………………… Rosemary Wamaitha Kimani E229/2475P/13 Declaration by the University Supervisors We confirm that the work reported in this thesis was carried out by the candidate under our supervision and has been submitted with our approval as University Supervisors. Signature………………………….. Date………………………………… Dr. Moses Gatambuki Gathigia Lecturer Department of Humanities and Languages School of Education and Social Sciences Karatina University Signature………………………….. Date………………………………… Dr. Naomi Moraa Nyarigoti Lecturer Department of Humanities and Languages School of Education and Social Sciences Karatina University ii DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my beloved mother Anastasia, my husband Pius and our children Brenda and Mathew. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank the Almighty God for His love and mercy. I also thank Karatina University for giving me the chance to further my studies. I am grateful to all the lecturers who have taught me during my time at the University. In particular, I appreciate Dr. Moses Gatambuki Gathigia and Dr. Naomi Moraa Nyarigoti, my supervisors, who guided me greatly in the writing of this thesis. I cannot forget to mention the teachers and students in public day secondary schools in the three Sub Counties of Nairobi County who were sampled in this study. To my colleagues at work and in school, thanks a lot for your constructive criticism. To my family, I thank you most sincerely for your encouragement and moral support. Lastly, I wish to thank my Almighty God for His abundant love and sufficient grace that has seen me come to this end. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION.......................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION............................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .................................................. xi ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1 1.1 Background to the Study .......................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ....................................................................................... 15 1.3 Purpose of the Study .............................................................................................. 16 1.4 Objectives of the Study .......................................................................................... 16 1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................... .16 1.6 Research Assumptions ........................................................................................... 17 1.7 Significance of the Study ....................................................................................... 17 1.8 Scope and Limitations of the Study ....................................................................... 18 1.9 Justification of the Study ...................................... ……………………………….19 1.10 Operationai definition of terms…………………………………………………24 1.11 Summary of the Chapter ...................................................................................... 25 v CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................... 26 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 26 2.2Languages in Use in Kenya and in Africa .............................................................. 26 2.3Theories on Language Choice ................................................................................ 30 2.4 Lexical, Grammatical and Phonological Loss in Language Shift.......................... 31 2.5 Language Death and Endangerment ...................................................................... 34 2.5.1 Studies on Endangered languages …………………..…………………….….36 2.6 Studies on Language Shift across the World……………………………….……37 2.7 Language Attitudes………………………………………………………………46 2.7.1 Studies on Attitude and Language Shift…………………………………….47 2.8 Growth and Development of Sheng……………………………………………..52 2.81 Impact of Sheng on Language Shift…………………………………………54 2.9 Language Shift and Gender……………………………………………………...55 2.10 Language Shift and Ethnicity………………………………………………….59 2.11 Theoretical and Framework……………………………………………………66 2.12 Summary of the Chapter………………………………………………………68 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY………………………..69 3.1 Introductio………………………………………………………………………69 3.2 Research Design…………………………………………………………………69 3.3 Location of the Study……………………………………………………………70 3.4 Target Population………………………………………………………………..70 vi 3.5 Sample Size and Sampling Procedures .................................................................. 71 3.6 Research Instruments ............................................................................................. 73 3.7 Validity of Instruments .......................................................................................... 74 3.8 Reliability of the Instruments................................................................................. 75 3.9 Data Collection Procedures.................................................................................... 75 3.10 Data Analysis and Presentation ........................................................................... 76 3.11 Ethical Issues ....................................................................................................... 77 3.12 Summary of the Chapter ...................................................................................... 77 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION .......................................................................................... 79 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 79 4.2 Response Rate ........................................................................................................ 80 4.3 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents ............................................. 80 4.3.1 Gender of Students ......................................................................................... 81 4.3.2 Ethnicity of Students ...................................................................................... 81 4.3.3 Language Taught by Teachers ....................................................................... 83 4.4 School Policy on Mother Tongue .......................................................................... 84 4.5 Preferred Languages in School Co-Curriculum Activities .................................... 85 4.6 Extent of Mother Tongue use in Social and Formal Domains ............................... 86 4.6.1 Language Used by Students outside the Classroom ....................................... 86 4.6.2 Language Used between Parents and Students within the School ................. 87 4.6.3 Language Used by Students in Communication with their Friends ............... 89 vii 4.6.4 Language Used By Students in Various Contexts .......................................... 90 4.7 Attitude of the Youth towards Mother Tongue...................................................... 94 4.8 Influence of Gender on Language Shift among the Youth .................................... 96 4.9 Impact of Ethnicity on Language Shift among the Youth ................................... 100 4.10 Summary of the Chapter .................................................................................... 100 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................... 102 5.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 102 5.2 Summary of Findings ........................................................................................... 102 5.2.1 Extent to Which the Youth Use Mother Tongue .......................................... 102 5.2.2 Attitudes of the Youth towards Mother Tongue .......................................... 102 5.2.3 Influence of Gender on Language Shift among the Youth .......................... 103 5.2.4 Impact of Ethnicity on Language Shift ........................................................ 103 5.3 Conclusions .........................................................................................................