Study title

The project is a sociolinguistic study that investigates language use from a development perspective, with a central aim of identifying the reasons behind code-switching, i.e. the alternation between Ngoni and Swahili, in the Ruvuma Region in southwestern Tanzania. In a language contact situation with the high status official language Swahili, a main question is if the Ngoni people no longer can express themselves adequately in Ngoni, - that is if the alternation between the two languages is used to fill linguistic gaps and achieving discursive aims, or if it expresses the shaping of identity. In the recordings rural Ngoni farmers voice their ideas about their cultural heritage, with a special focus on attitudes towards Ngoni culture and cultural changes. The recordings deal with value systems, rituals, taboos and traditions, and naming traditions. The data consists of 36 sound recordings in Ngoni with totally 27 informants/participants who are all bilingual in Ngoni and Swahili. The participants live in two villages outside Songea in the Ruvuma Region of Tanzania, Mhepai and Peramiho B. The sound recordings are 9 focus group recordings and 27 interviews with the participants of the focus group discussions. All participants have given their consent. The focus group recordings are totally about 6 hours. The 9 focus groups were: 15 young persons between 15–20 years old (6 boys and 3 girls from Peramiho B and 3 boys and 3 girls from Mhepai), and 12 persons above the age of 60 (3 women and 3 men from Peramiho B and 3 women and 3 men from Mhepai). All focus group recordings are transcribed and translated into Swahili and English. Code switching to Swahili is marked in bold, even in transcriptions and translations. The interviews were conducted in Swahili, sometimes with parts in ngoni, if needed. The English translations of the interviews are found in the data set, as well as the recordings in Swahili. Each participant has additionally been interviewed after the...