The Effect of Revitalization of Indigenous Language on Preservation of African Culture: A Case of Terik Language in Terik Ward, Nandi South Sub County, Kenya

The purpose of this sociolinguistic study was to investigate the effect of revitalization of indigenous language on preservation of African culture, a case of Terik language in Terik ward, Nandi south sub county, Terik Language is an indigenous language in Kenya that is spoken by Terik people of Nandi South, Terik language is seriously endangered and it’s at a risk of extinction thus endangering Terik culture. The study aimed to determine the evidence and nature of Terik language endangerment among the Terik children. The study took an eclectic theoretical approach; Gaelic Arvanitika Model (GAM) by Sasse (1992) and the Marked Bilingualism Model by Batibo (2005). Qualitative and Quantitative methods were used to collect and analyze data. It also used a combination of research instruments namely; questionnaires and participant observation to collect data on language attitudes and language choice. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data on decline in knowledge of the basic vocabulary of kinship terms within the Terik lexicon among the Terik. The informant sample consisted of A target population of 20,450 from Terik sub location was used but a sample of 3000 respondents from the sub-locations. The results indicate that Terik language is losing its territory; children speak English followed by Kiswahili. Terik language is considered as having little socio-economic value and a lot of its native words are ceasing to exist making it quite susceptible to endangerment. The results of the research thus compliment language shift and endangerment studies done on the major indigenous languages in Kenya. The results of the study will also help researchers and policy makers in the formulation of clear language policies to revitalize shifting and dying languages in urban and rural centers, and finally the result will empower indigenous communities to perceive language shift/maintenance as a phenomenon they can control through their attitudes towards language choice. Language is a marker of identity and by documenting and recommending its maintenance, this work will contribute in saving this rich heritage