Identite culturelle et linguistique: Etapes Et Consequences De Sa Transformation
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Date
1999
Authors
Nzunga, M.P.K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University Faculty of Arts
Abstract
The existence of a pure and isolated culture seems practically impossible. Even long before the era
of the Great Voyages, social contacts between different peoples were frequent. These Voyages,
however, marked a decisive step towards domination (socio-political, socio-economic, socio-cultural,
socio-linguistic ...) of the colonized peoples, by the colonial masters. The situation created was one
in which the structures of the institutions of the former simply had to align themselves to the forces
of the culture of the foreign masters.
This article attempts to show the conditions that provoke inevitable cultural and linguistic
changes. The author goes on to show how, in extreme cases, loss of cultural and linguistic identity
can lead to a social crisis, which could be accompanied by retarded cognitve development. Attempts
are made to show the three main stages (contact, conflict, adaptation), of a complete cultural
transformation.
The article points out the social characteristics associated with each one of the three universally
observed stages of transformation, and discusses suggested solutions to the subsequent cultural
and linguistic crisis