Language Perceptions: A Prediction Clue of Bukavu Linguistic Situation and Its Impact on the Town Socioeconomic Development

Abstract

This paper explores the language perceptions and attitudes as perceived by the population of Bukavu town in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the impact of such perceptions on language vitality and on the town socioeconomic development. The purpose is to reflect on the present and future linguistic situation of the town and relate the shown perceptions and attitudes to the town socioeconomic development. A questionnaire was addressed to 1,266 people selected from the three Bukavu communes. The results indicate, on one hand, growing negative attitudes towards local languages and Kiswahili (the regional language) and growing positive attitudes towards French and English. This is a good indication that even though Kiswahili is still the commonly used language in the town today, it is also already in a state of vulnerability considering its users perceptions and attitudes. Such vulnerability and endangerment go also for all other local languages; Mashi, Kirega, Kifuliru, Kihavu, Kitembo. This negatively impacts on the town socioeconomic in the sense that there is a very low involvement rate of the people into informal innovative and creative sectors despite the very high unemployment rate in the formal sector. On the other hand, French and English are in a safety state in Bukavu which implies a very promising future. This is a good indication of Bukavu openness to international economic transactions which positively contribute to the town socioeconomic development. The study limited to one town (Bukavu) and its surroundings. For the reliability purpose, it should be replicated to include the whole country to check if the situation can be applied to the whole country.