DOMINANT LANGUAGES IN A PLURAL-SOCIETY - ENGLISH AND KISWAHILI IN POSTCOLONIAL EAST-AFRICA

Within the regional constellation of languages in East Africa English and Kiswahili have been the most influential trans-ethnic languages. T he sociopolitical dynamics of these languages, however, have varied fr om one country to another along three interrelated parameters: (1) the confluence of indigenous, Islamic and Western traditions; (2) the div ide, in power relations, between imperial, hegemonic and preponderant languages; and (3) the difference in the sociolinguistic values of sen timent and instrumentality. In this interaction of social forces the l anguages have played complementary and competitive roles and have acqu ired both convergent and divergent functions. As the East African mult ilingual context continues to favor a state of polylingualism, English and Kiswahili have been struggling for greater legitimacy, the former by getting increasingly localized and the latter by seeking universal ist credentials.