3.10.
Summary
This chapter has tried to analyze the diglossic distinction
existing in lexical items of Swahili spoken in Bukavu. It has been shown that
the two varieties of Swahili spoken in Bukavu share different lexical items;
that is, the B.S lexical store is in so many ways different from the S one. To
carry out this diglossic analysis of lexical features in Swahili spoken in
Bukavu, I based on eight lexical classes viz. nouns, adjectives, pronouns,
verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. These lexical
classes have displayed significant lexical differences since B.S. deviates from
S through borrowings from both Western and vernacular languages, neologisms,
and S words of which meanings are transformed. The following chapter is going
to focus over some discussion revolving around B.S./S distinction as far as
lexicon is concerned
Chapter 4: DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS FROM THE DIGLOSSIC
ANALYSIS OF THE DATA
4.1.
Introduction
The analysis of the collected data has led to lexical
difference between Bukavu Swahili and Sarufi, both verities of Swahili spoken
in Bukavu. B.S. diverges sensibly from S as far as lexicon is concerned. B.S.
divergence from S has been analyzed in three different ways. First, it borrows
a lot of words from both Western and vernacular languages. Second it resorts to
neologisms. Third, it bases on S words of which the meanings are transformed.
Lexical difference between B.S. and S may lead to some
communication problems. A B.S. speaker would face some difficulty understanding
an S speaker in the use of lexical features, and conversely with an S speaker.
Illustration will be provided on 4.3.
The account hereafter is going to elaborate upon the
development of diglossia in Swahili spoken in Bukavu and some communication
problems that may be encountered by Swahili speakers of Bukavu, especially in
the realm of lexicon.
4.2.
Development of diglossia in Swahili spoken in Bukavu.
Swahili spoken in Bukavu has been looked at as a language in
which diglossia is widely implemented. This means that it has two different
linguistic varieties of which one is used for formal purposes and the other for
informal ones. The high variety has been looked at as «Sarufi» (or S)
and the low «Bukavu Swahili» (or B.S., for short). Diglossia is
enhanced in Swahili spoken in Bukavu through three main ways in which B.S.
deviates from S, as earlier mentioned in 4.1. Besides, in chapter 1 of this
paper, the literature on diglossia by Ferguson, after being adapted to the
linguistic situation of Swahili spoken in Bukavu, has widely shown how both
varieties differ each from the other in nine rubrics. With the main focus of
this study, it has also been shown how both varieties differ in their lexical
stores.
The three main ways marking divergence of B.S. from S
(borrowings, neologisms, and S words of which meanings are transformed) are
going to be discussed here below.
4.2.1.
Borrowings
Borrowing words are common currency in Swahili spoken in
Bukavu. It is B.S. which largely borrows words from two great sources. These
words are borrowed from Western languages (French and English) and vernacular
languages (Mashi and Kilega). From Western languages, B.S. borrows such words
as «crayon»(pencil), »montre»(watch),
«garcon»(boy), «fille»(girl), «intimider»(to
intimidate), vert(green), etc corresponding to S «kalamu ya risasi»,
«saa», «mtoto mwanaume», «binti»,
«Kutisha», «rangi ya majani». From vernacular languages,
B.S. borrows words like «ganywa»(drunkard),
«munyere»(girl), «musikila»(boy),
«mungere»(shepherd),... matching respectively with S
«mlevi», «binti», «mtoto mwnaume»,
«mchungaji».
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