The Effects of Sheng’ Vocabulary Usage in the Learning of Kiswahili Grammar in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/jep.2192Keywords:
Impact, Sheng, Vocabulary, Learning, Kiswahili, GrammarAbstract
Purpose: Sheng’ is a linguistic code based primarily on the Kiswahili structure and grammar with the lexicon drawn from Kiswahili, English and the various ethnic languages of Kenya; that are mostly spoken in towns and other urban areas. The purpose of this paper was to examine the effects of Sheng’ vocabulary on the learning of Kiswahili grammar in public secondary schools in Kenya.
Methodology: Krejcie & Morgan sampling table was used to sample the schools. Stratified random sampling, simple random sampling and purposive strategy were used to sample the public secondary schools to participate. Krejcie and Morgan sampling table was used to sample 55 teachers of Kiswahili and 360 students to take part in the study. Data was collected using observation schedules, focused group discussion guides and a writing task for students. Questionnaires and interview guides were used for teachers of Kiswahili. Qualitative data collected was analyzed thematically to generate information that was summarized in graphics and discussed in narrative form. Quantitative data was analyzed with the help of Statistical package for social Studies.
Findings: The findings of the study further revealed that Sheng’ vocabulary influenced written Kiswahili grammar as learners wrote Sheng’ words whereas they were expected to write standard Kiswahili.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy, and Practice: School administrators should come up with a school-based language policy so as to control learners’ language environment. The ministry of education should encourage the culture of drama, music and debate competition among schools. The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development should also ensure language use is stipulated in Kiswahili curriculum and Sheng’ be considered as an independent language code in the country.
Downloads
References
Angalia, A.(2017). The growth of Sheng’ and its Effect on Media Strategies for Targeting the Youth Market. American Journal. Ajpjournal.org.
Basori (2022). Interlanguage Analysis. How Morpheme order studies do not a necessarily apply to any Situation, ejournal. Eng. Uin. Malay.ac.od.
Beck, S. (2022). Multilingual practices in Education: A perspective from Language ecology. helda. Hesinki, f1.
Bosire, M. (2009). What Makes a Sheng’ Word Unique? Lexical Manipulation in Mixed Languages. Selected Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference on African Linguistics, ed. Akinloye Ojo and Lioba Moshi,77-85. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Proceedings Project
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D., (2018, 5th Ed.). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. SAGE publications India: Available at https://ccn.loc.gov/2017044644
Fink, T. (2005). Attitudes towards languages in Nairobi. Masters Thesis, University of Pittsburg.
Geia,K. (2021). Impact of Sheng on Languages in Kenya. International journalof Linguistics 2021 ipjb.org
Gitera, R. (2016). The Study of Morphological processes in Gitamanya among Kiembu speaking youth. urepository uonbi.com
Gimode, J. (2015). A Socio-pragmatic and structural analysis of code-switching Among the Logoli Speech of Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya. Taylor and Francis.
Githiora, C. (2018). Sheng’: peer language, Swahili dialect or emerging Creole? Journal of African Cultural Studies Volume 15, Number 2, pp. 159–181.
Herye, C. (2021). Data analysis and trustworthiness in Qualitative Research researchgate.net.
Jowal,J. (2015). Sheng’: Shaping Kenya‟s identity. Daily Nation 19th January 2015.
Kariuki, E (2021) Influence of Sheng’ Language on proficiency and Mastery of English and Kiswahili in primary schools. Journal of linguistics ipib.org
Kerfoot, C. (2013). Multilingualism as epistemic resource: rethinking language in education policy. Talk given at SOAS, June
Kiarie, W. (2004). Language and Multiparty Democracy in a Multiethnic Kenya. Africa Today 50. No.3, 56-73. Mazrui, A. (1995). Slang and code switching: the case of Sheng’ in Kenya. Afrikanistiche Arbeitspapiere, vol. 42, pp. 168-179.
Lupke, L. (2016). An Outline of English Lexicology; Lexical Structure, Word Semantics, and Word-formation. Tuebingen: Max Niemeyer
Mbugua,I.(2003). Identity Politics in Nairobi Matatu Folklore. PhD Dissertation. Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Miringo, P. (2016). A Complex linguistic Code in Kenya . A case of sheng eroporisity. Uonbi.ac. ke
Muhando, I (2022). The effect of Kiswahili on the use of English as a medium of Instruction and language in Kenyan Secondary schools: Acase study of secondary schools in Bungoma District. Unpublished M.Phil thesis, MoiUniversity
Mutiga, J. (2013). Effects of Language Spread on a People’ Phenomenology: The Case of sheng’in Kenya. Journal of Language, Technology & Entrepreneurship in Africa.Vol. 4 (1) 1-14.
Mwangi, I. (2020). A River from Rivulets? A study of Sheng Vis-à-vis Indigenous Kenyan Languages
Nassaji, H.(2021). Good Qualitative Research. taylorfrancis. Com
Njoroge, M. (2012). The inferior stone in the language hearth: The quest for recognition of indigenous African languages in the global arena. In S. Sanneh, K. Wanjogu and O. Adesola (eds.). Language in African performing and visual arts (pp. 20-28). Connecticut:Yale University.
Obata, A (2022). Impact of Sheng dialect on the English and Kiswahili teaching in Kenya. European Journal of Linguistics carijournals.org
Obuya,J. (2020). Justifying the Qualitativ case Study in cintexts dominated by Qualitative approaches. Sage publication
Ogechi, N. O. (2011). On Lexicalization in Sheng. Nordic Journal of African Studies 14(3): 334–355.
Shrenk, H. (2015). The negative and positive phenomenon – and phono semantic meaning in Rasta talk. Degruyter.com
Wanyama, L. (2014). Language Communication and Marketing Contextualizing the rise Sheng Language in Advertising Platform in Kenya 41.891011.66
Wawire, P.(2023). Language and Literary Practices in Kenya. Springer
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Dorcas, Mugun, John Simiyu, Rachel Koros
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
