The State Of Tanzania‟S Community Languages In The Age Of Globalization: Focus On Children‟S Acquisition Of Mother Tongue

ABSTRACT

The significance of language in the overall civilization and maintenance of social existence of humankind has made some scholars in human development regard language as a universal cultural tool. In particular, the place of, and strategies for, preservation of ethnic community languages in the context of globalisation has recently become an area of serious concern across the world. The purpose of this study was to examine the state of children‟s acquisition of mother tongue in relatively closed and open communities in Tanzania in the age of globalisation. The specific objectives were to: (1). investigate how the interface between globalisation and the current cultural policy affects mother tongue acquisition in relatively closed and open communities in Tanzania; (2) establish the uses of ethnic community languages in the current age of globalisation in Tanzania; (3) establish the major facilitative and or inhibitive factors towards children‟s acquisition of mother tongue in relatively closed and open communities in the contexts of globalisation; (4) determine the theoretical perspectives that best explain the state of ethnic community languages acquisition in the relatively closed and open communities in the context of globalisation.

Two communities in different locations based on their degree of openness were involved in the study, where a multiple case design and a qualitative research approach were deployed. The research and interpretation processes were guided by the socio-cultural theory of learning and the sceptic theory of globalisation. Using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and documentary review, the data were collected from a purposively selected sample of 155 informants (parents = vii 68), children = 60), local government leaders = 13), traditional leaders = 9) and policy-makers = 5). It was found that Tanzania‟s cultural policy had good statement provisions which have been either partially or not implemented on the ground and it skipped important issues that would have made it effective. The two communities in this study were governed by two different social orientations in interacting with newcomers. The relatively open community practised social inclusion tendency while the relatively closed community practised social exclusion tendency, and these tendencies had effects on children‟s acquisition of mother tongue. It was further revealed that, traditional religions played a significant role in (MTA) and maintenance. The study concludes that there is a direct relationship between community‟s sociocultural context and language acquisition and maintenance. The policy was a key factor in creating the current attitudes and beliefs on a particular language. It is recommended that communities revitalize their cultural and social formations that were used to tie them up together so that in the course they would maintain their specific ethnic community language. Policy is informed in its reforms to create good attitudes in ECLs users by assigning them some formal uses. This would strengthen or create good belief in their language