CW-Department of English & Linguistics

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    The Element Structure of Kenyan English Monophthongs
    (University of Nairobi, 2018) Itumo, Joshua
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    Socio-cultural and gender issues in substance abuse in Kenya
    (2003-09) Njoroge, Martin
    In the global scene, today substance abuse is said to contribute to many social problems, including the break-up of family structures, decreased productivity, injuries and automobile accidents. Criminal activity is often the result of / substance abuse or the desire of money to purchase drugs. There are many factors that lead members of a specific society to abuse drugs. These could be religious, curative, cultural, social or recreational. However, some questions do arise: are there any gender disparities in substance abuse? Are there socio-cultural factors that, for example, push a man to substance abuse and leave out a woman or vice versa? What socio-cultural and gender issues do children, adults and the elderly face that predispose them to substance abuse in Kenya? What does the current literature on substance abuse say as regards gender disparity in thefield? In this paper, we purpose to address the problem of substance abuse in Kenya and discuss how socio-cultural and gender disparities interplay in pushing both male andfemale members of society into substance abuse den. There is also a review of literature on gender and substance abuse specifically highlighting any disparities in how society generally view men and women who abuse drugs. In our discussion, the term social denotes all that relates to human society while culture summates the total range of the inherited ideas, beliefs and knowledge which constitutes the shared basis of social action. In discussing gender issues, we take account of special pre-dispositions or strengths that come about because of being male or female.
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    Code Switching in Multilingual Situation: Opposing Views
    (Kenyatta University, 2003) Ogutu, Emily Atieno; Kanana, Fridah Erastus
    In a multilingual situation where individuals have command of more than one language in which to communicate, people tend to engage in the simultaneous or alternate use of two or more languages during conversation. This results in a Sociolinguistic phenomenon known as Code Switching. Opposing views have been expressed regarding the use of Code Switching: Some language users view Code Switching negatively saying that it is impolite, especially where there is a mixed audience, and that it not only reflects the speaker S lack of competence in one or all of the languages involved, but that it also hinders the attainment of competence in the target language for those learning a second or third language. On the other hand, there are those who view Code Switching positively saying that it is a creative aspect of language use, a reflection of complex bilingual skills used for effective communication in multilingual situations. This paper explores the opposing views regarding the use of code switching and considers some data that support the positive view of Code Switching in relation to the Kenyan language situation. The paper proceeds to suggest that, if the view that Code Switching is a positively creative aspect of language use is adopted, then Code Switching can be used for the promotion of all the languages at play in a multilingual society
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    Bantu Cultural and Linguistic Shift on Contact with Nilotic Luo: A Case Study of Languages around Lake Victoria
    (Kenyatta University, 2003) Shivachi, Caleb
    The Luo are Nilotic peoples and as they came into contact with the lacustrine Bantu namely; Gusii Kuria, Suba and Luhyia, alongside process of cultural and linguistic shift took place at the expense of bantu speakers. Once in contact the one time Bantu speakers changed over to become Luo speakers and generally the former would fee offended in reminded of their Bantu origins. This paper surveys the cultures particularly of the Luo speakers inorder to find pointers as to why the bantu willingly, so to speak, abandoned their cultures and languages in preference to Luo. No other indigenous language in Kenya other than Kiswahili seems to have influenced so many others as Luo did. In most cases some of the languages and dialects referred to in this research have disappeared others are in the process of shift and yet others are barely surviving the process of shift to Luo. Ironically the Bantu groups involved in contact with Luo attribute their cultural and linguistic shift to"Luo arrogance". The research will attempt to give reasons for shift and illustrate some of the linguistic processes of shift.