Language endangerment in Tanzania: identifying and maintaining endangered languages

Abstract

This article summarizes the linguistic situation in Tanzania with regard to languages spoken by small ethnic groups of approximately 20,000 people (as last indicated in the 1967 population census). Based on on-going fieldwork and library research, approximately 20 up-country languages (L1s) are identified as highly endangered. All languages spoken in the hinterland of the Indian Ocean coast also fall into the same category, as inter-generational language transmission is interrupted there to a large extent. In this area as well as up-country, Swahili (L2), as the medium of instruction in primary schools, has a strong impact on the younger generation's L1 competency and proficiency. The exclusion of L1 from most formal domains, where L2 plays a prominent role both as the national and co-official language, has another detrimental effect on L1 maintenance, which is no longer guaranteed. No experience of how to stop the massive shift away from L1s is available. In the foreseeable future a number of the current highly endangered languages will become extinct. Hence, documenting these languages is an urgent priority.