This research is a sociolinguistic study that looks at the use of Luruuri, a minority language spoken in the Lake Kyoga basin and Luganda, a majority language spoken in central Uganda. It analyses the relationship between language management and maintenance, investigating both official and non-official language management. The main aim of the study was to question the role of language policy and planning in language maintenance, especially in maintaining languages in a stable multilingual setting. The study follows the formal/traditional language policy and planning frameworks and the theory of language management inspired by the work of Bernard Spolsky (2009). Data was obtained through field work in Uganda, where various sociolinguistic research methods including ethnographic, sociolinguistic and linguistic analytical methods were employed. Data was analysed qualitatively in order to ascertain their sociolinguistic position and use. Findings revealed increased prestige and status awarded to English, the language of all official communications, while local languages lack such functions. It also revealed increased dominance of majority languages over less used languages especially in the public domains which has impacted on the maintenance of such languages. Although local languages performed well in cultural-identity functions, they were affected by increased negative attitudes by especially the younger generation. All such cases as elaborated in the study indicated difficulty in maintaining languages and stable multilingualism. Strategies to restore the language situation, including macro-level planning strategies to supplement grassroots language planning and maintenance, a multilevel language planning and policy strategy to promote the multi-glossic language use structures that exist in the language communities and prestige planning in order to restore the prestige of African languages, de-cultivate the negative attitudes and ideologies while sensitising the masses on the importance of policy changes and the likely effects of the current status quo are recommended.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:594033 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Nakayiza, Judith |
| Publisher | SOAS, University of London |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/15950/ |
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