Changing phases of linguistic ecology in Tanzania

The vitality of ethnic languages

Bibliographic Data

ID21757202
AuthorsCyprian TK Kilangi (0000-0002-2500-1080, University of Dar es Salaam, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume43
Issue3
Pages379-392
Publication date2025-07-03
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSouthern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1607-3614 • E-ISSN: 1727-9461
PublisherNational Inquiry Services Center (NISC) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2989/16073614.2024.2384638
OpenAlexW4408549451
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited25

This article explores the vitality of Tanzania’s ethnic languages. The study examines the relationship between language ecology and language vitality. Like many minority languages around the world, Tanzania’s ethnic languages are under threat of extinction. This threat is primarily attributed to speakers of those languages abandoning them in favour of Kiswahili, the national and official language of Tanzania. The article comprehensively analyses the sociopolitical environment that has contributed to the current situation. Based on the arguments from critical analysis of secondary sources, the article presents a historical and eclectic account of the factors that have contributed to the marginalisation of ethnic languages in the prevailing sociopolitical environment. The article argues that for a language maintenance programme to succeed in Tanzania, the sociopolitical environment responsible for the current state of ethnic languages must be addressed

Biology · Ethnic group · Ethnology · Geography · Linguistic change · Linguistics · Sociology · Tanzania · Vitality · Anthropology · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Multilingual Education and Policy · Philosophy · Ecology

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