DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2018.v06i03.024

Pages: 653-658

This paper aims at examining the characteristics of language shift in Makonde language, Kinondo ward, Kwale County, Kenya. Kwale County is a county where people differing in language (Digo, Duruma, Kiswahili and English) are in contact with each other. Kinondo ward, where speakers of Makonde language are found offers an interesting setting for the investigation of language maintenance and language shift. A total of 100 respondents with Makonde ancestry participated in this research. One issue explored was the characteristics of language shift in Makonde language. Data obtained from 100 subjects showed that Makonde language is considered to be an inferior Language in Kenya and as a minority language. The study also found that there was an imbalance in borrowing and that young Makonde speakers were losing their territorial language. However, there were levels of positive language retention of Makonde language, especially at family domain, market places and ritual ceremonies. This showed that as long as Makonde people live in a concentrated area in Kenya, they will have better chances of maintaining their language. This paper is a useful tool for the Makonde community to popularize the maintenance of the Makonde language in Kwale County.