Language Endangerement and Maintenance of the Ilwana Language in Tana River County, Kenya
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Date
2025-05
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The Ilwana language, spoken by a minority community in Tana River County in Kenya, has experienced prolonged social contact with dominant languages such as Pokomo, Orma, and Swahili. Following this intense cultural contact with dominant language speakers, is it possible for Ilwana language to resist shift? Guided by Giles et al.’s (1977) Ethnolinguistic Vitality Theory, this study investigates factors contributing to maintaining the Ilwana language in a multilingual setting. Using a mixed methods approach, data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions. Findings reveal that the language is maintained in the home (77%) and religious (71%) domains, but shifts occur in the cultural, workplace, and business settings. Positive attitudes and intergenerational transmission enhance language maintenance, while limited institutional support and urbanization threaten it. This study emphasizes the need for policy interventions to preserve minority languages in Kenya.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfillment for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts (English and Linguistics) of Kenyatta University, May, 2025
Supervisor:
1.Kenneth Ngure