The Changing Fortunes of Kiswahili in Tanzania

Abstract

Kiswahili in Tanzania is in conflict with vernacular African languages as well as with English. Data presented in this paper shows that there is a gradual shift to Kiswahili even in domains that were served by indigenous vernaculars. Some aspects of contemporary political discourse and the debate concerning the medium of instruction seem to favor English. Using communication accommodation theory, it is argued that the changing fortunes of Kiswahili reflect how Tanzaniane perceive themselves at different historical points since the 1950s. The rapid ascendancy of Kiswahili occurred at the time of much nationalist sentiments, while the resurgence of English has come after the collapse of the socialist experiment.