0.2.
Problem statement
The diglossic situation of Swahili spoken in Bukavu is
striking as far as lexicon is concerned. B.S. and S use, at a large scale,
different lexical stores. In other words, the two linguistic varieties have
each a specific set of lexical features.
0.3. Research questions
1) Why are there lexical differences between B.S. and S?
2) What is the possible consequence of these lexical
differences between both varieties?
0.4. Hypotheses
There are lexical differences between B.S. and S because the
former resorts to borrowing words (from Western languages and vernaculars), to
neologisms, and to S lexical features of which the meanings are transformed.
Furthermore, Lexical differences between both varieties cause communication
problems among Swahili speakers of Bukavu. For instance, a B.S. speaker would
be semantically misled before an S lexical item and the same with an S speaker.
0.5. Methodology
The methodological tools I have had recourse to are
observation, interview and documentation. The first led me to focus much
attention on the lexicon in use in different utterances by Swahili speakers in
Bukavu. With the second, I questioned my informants on the relevance of the
lexical items taking into account the diglossic distinction between B.S. and S.
Finally, the third let me resort to books and articles relative to this study.
0.6. Scope of the study
This study concerns the implementation of diglossia in Swahili
spoken in Bukavu with focus on lexicon.
0.7. Significance of the study
This study aims at analyzing the diglossic lexical differences
between B.S. and S. This is of significant importance as it attempts to analyze
the difference lying between the lexical stores of both B.S. and S. This would
incite and lead a Swahili speaker of Bukavu to develop ability to understand
either lexical store.
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