Analysis Of Youths’ Slang In The Makunduchi Dialect: A Case Of South District Of Unguja

ABSTRACT

The study analyzed the use of slang among youth speakers of the Makunduchi Dialect in the South District of Unguja. It, specifically, examined the morphosyntactic features of the slang used by the youth of the Makunduchi Swahili Dialect. It analysed the reasons for youth‟s use of slang and, finally, described the attitudes of the Makunduchi society towards the use of slang. The study employed qualitative approach to obtain the data from 94 informants who were sampled through simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through non participant observation, focus group discussion, Semi-structured interviews and questionnaire survey. The analysis of the collected data revealed that the morphosyntactic features of the youths‟ slang are exhibited in the nouns, phrases and sentences. Furthermore, the study revealed that the prevalence of slang among youths is influenced by the need for social identity and solidarity, excluding others and the need to simplify communication. Analysis of the gathered data also revealed that there are three different perspectives about the use of slangs in the study area; a large group of people view it as an ordinary scenario without any morally and spiritual effect. The second group argues that it is a good use of language which should be encouraged because they contribute much to the expansion of language. The last group, which of course consists of a few people, believes that the use of slangs destroys the dialect and may be the source of misbehaviors.