Language And Ethno-Linguistic Identity Among the Gurage People In Dire Dawa
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Date
2020-08
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AAU
Abstract
This study examined the language and ethnolinguistic identity among the Gurage people living in Dire Dawa within Ethno-Linguistic Identity Theory (ELIT) and Speech Accommodation Theory (SAT) as analytical framework. A descriptive research design with a mixed research approach was followed to gather and analyze data from a sample of 392 people (purposely selected 20 for the qualitative focus group interviews and randomly selected 372 for the quantitative questionnaire). The data were collected through self-administered questionnaire, focus grouped discussion, and domain observation.
The dissertation describes the ethnolinguistic vitality vis-à-vis language use and language attitudes, and ethnolinguistic identity of the Gurage in multilingual Dire Dawa who are multilingual and capable of speaking up to five languages though most acquired Gurage as a mother tongue. The study proved the identification of the mother tongue is significantly associated with the place of birth, i.e. respondents who were born in Dire Dawa have a lower tendency of recognizing Gurage as mother tongue.
The linguistic repertoire of the Gurage in Dire Dawa is characterized by multilingualism that has an impact on their language behavior. The degree of multilingualism is determined by age, and it results in code-switching and the reduction of native Gurage vocabulary, and shows differences in mother tongue identification. The Gurage use code switching for social approval and social solidarity, for establishing friendship and hiding information from others.
Domain analysis study revealed that Amharic, the official language of the city, dominates the wider communication, and is even interfering in intimate and socio-cultural domains. Gurage language is used in contexts such as home, cultural domains, with relatives and during emphasis. However, the intergenerational transfer of Gurage languages is statistically insignificant in the home domain which in turn strongly affects the ethnolinguistic vitality of the Gurage. Men – not women – more often use Gurage languages in most domains. However, women employ Gurage language better than men only in home domain. Nevertheless, there was a general predisposition of language shift at home domain.
Language use among the Gurage contradicts with their positive attitudes to Gurage languages and culture, whereas men are more favorable than women regarding the use of Gurage languages and their maintenance, and literacy in Gurage. The parents’ generation is less positive towards literacy in Gurage than the children generation. Amharic and English are preferred as languages of education and mass media due to their assumed high socioeconomic value. Gurage language is mainly well preferred to be
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used in education and mass media. Oromo and Somali languages are preferred at markets and for getting better-paid jobs.
The patterns of language use across generations negatively affected the Gurage ethnolinguistic vitality in multilingual Dire Dawa. A lack of institutional support and their marginalized socio-political position in the city have a negative effect on the Gurage ethnolinguistic identity; although most Gurage claimed that their language was a key index of their ethnolinguistic identity.
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in Dire Dawa within Ethno-Linguistic Identity Theory, Gurage people living in Dire Dawa within Ethno-Linguistic Identity Theory