Linguistic Situation In Senegal Languages In Senegal

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Senegal is a country where three great civilizations came together: black African, Arab-Islamic and western French. This situation leads to a cultural and a linguistic diversity, a melting pot of people and languages which impacts daily life, administration and education within the country.

The first people living in Senegal were of various ethnicities that formed small and large kingdoms. The arrival of Arabs in the fifth century marked the beginning of a new communication channel and the trans-Saharan trade. With Arab traders, Islam was spread out in the country and Arabic became a language of worship. Its geographical situation on the Atlantic coast explains how the first European adventurers landed since the fifteenth century. The country has got such a big linguistic diversity with different ethnic groups, each with their own language. As of today, twenty languages have the status of national language, including the six most widely spoken languages and most important are the Wolof, Fulani (Al-pular), Sereer, Diola, Malinke, and Soninke. (Leclerc, 2003; Berdal-Masuy, 1998).

The most spoken language is Wolof, which is the lingua franca of the country, spoken by at least 90% of the population. Originally, Wolof (ethnic group) were agricultural people, the Murid (*) from the north representing around 40% of the total population. Also Lebous (7%), another ethnic group from the north, populated by fishermen, are now quite "wolofisés" (*). After independence in 1960, these ethnic groups, mostly Muslims, have managed to gain power and impose Wolof as the national language. We find that this explains in part the success of Wolof today in the country. (ref)

The origins of language policy in Senegal today are in the country's history. Senegal, a melting pot of different peoples and languages, was unified into a single state bit by bit by the Europeans. French, then worked as a unifier in order to facilitate communication between them and indigenous.

After its independence, Senegal has chosen French as the official language of the country, keeping its high status of being the language of administration, media, education, international communication, ect. (Leclerc, 2003).

However, the first President of Senegal, Leopold Sedar Senghor, writer, poet and first African at the French academy worked for the maintain of indigenous languages as part of the linguistic heritage of the country. (La documentation francaise, 2004). Through him, national languages are codified nowadays and taught in school as part of an education curricular. In 1971, he gave official national status to six languages: Wolof, Sereer, Pulaar, Diola, Mandinka and Soninke to go along with the official language French. In 2001, the constitution revised this law including any other language using a standardized alphabet (Leclerc, 2003).

"La langue officielle de la République du Sénégal est le Français. Les langues nationales sont le diola, le malinké, le poular, le sérère, le soninké, le wolof et toute autre langue nationale qui sera codifiée." («The official language of the Republic of Senegal is French, National languages are diola, malinké, pular, sereer, soninké, wolof and any other codified language ") – Article 1, January 7th, 2001 – Senegal Government.

English is considered as a foreign language in the country. It is often used in the private sector, in business and in cultural activities in the country (music and art). English is taught formally from high school to university. It is also taught in several private language centers that are emerging every day in Dakar and in major cities.

Code switching phenomenon and language practise in Senegal

Code switching is a common phenomenon in everyday conversations of Senegalese people. Considering the linguistic aspect of the way the population communicates each other can be a main point for a research curious to know the reason why people use two languages within a single speech. Actually knowing more than one language has nothing mysterious or exotic in our context because many Senegalese are bilingual. However using different codes in a same speech, in one sentence seems to be interesting, raising questions about the motivation of the choice of language.

We can recognise that the discourse of the population is used with several ssegments of words in French. Therefore, we are dealing with the code switching phenomenon between two different languages: Wolof and French, that John J. Gumperz defines as followed: " the juxtaposition within the same speech exchange of passages of speech belonging to two different grammatical systems or subsystems" (Gumperz, 1982, p.59)

Conversations, SMS (Text Messages), email patterns, and chat forum will be used as analysis field in order to explain and clarify the code switching method used through the ICT tool devices. Some people will use casually French because they have heard it or studied it before and never mastered which means they are more exposed to Wolof or any other language, while others will use it frequently and correctly in their speech.

This phenomenon is especially observed in urban environments where many languages meet up, up, as well as different people from different cultures and different social backgrounds. Introducing mother tongue in the speech is common even though French is the official language of the country, which makes the code switching method more interesting. Wouldn’t it be a way to promote the usage of mother tongue or native language more and more intstead of a borrowed language? Also, the heterogeneity of the speakers in a specific group or determined area will make us understand and interpret their language practices, just like Uriel Weinrech defines it as the place where languages get into contact do not depend on the place but the bilingual person himself. (Weinrech, 1954, p 280)

Would the codeswitching strengthen up the value of exchange or casual discussions? Would the speaker use it in order to better communicate his/her message or express the most with very few words an idea or thought? Does Wolof get into the conversation because of a lack of French language knowledge? We will answer those questions through data collection, observations, interviews and facts. We will analyse as well the social factors that plays a determinative role in the choice of language.

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Use of Languages and communication technology tools

As far as native languages are concerned, its usage is mostly oral while French is written. However those native languages are mostly used in text messages to communicate. Wolof will be my area of study for this section.

Based on data collection and observations, it will be interesting to examine the motivations of linguistics choices and functions of languages in communication, based on Carol Myers-Scotton‘s theory (1993) about code switching.

We notice a domination of French, wolofisation which is the informal "parallel" to the official nation-building attempt (smith, 2006, p.1), and a rising speech style mixed with French and Wolof representing the three main features of the sociolinguistic situation of the country. Mastering spoken and written French contributes to the social mobility of individuals, such as in other sub-saharian countries previously colonized by France. Wolof is the franca lingua of the country, the national language is as a spoken medium throughout the nation by over 50% of the population (Poore, 2004, p.4), and its usage keeps on doubling despite the background or ethnic group one is from since it is considered to express the national culture and the identity of Senegal. Concerning the oral communication, language standards tend to use a mix of French and Wolof, called urban Wolof (named by Swigart) or Dakar Wolof.

According to Carol Myers-Scotton’s theory, any choice of language is linked to a set of rights and social obligations and intra-individual between the interlocutors. The speaker wants certain rights and obligations that are in force in the communication and chooses language of his/her choice.

The principle of negotiation as Carol Myers-Scotton explains implies that any choice of language is actually linked to a set of right and social obligation as well as intra-individual between speakers. At some point the speaker requires himself certain rights and obligations in the exchange then finally makes his own choice of language. (Scotton, 1983, p.116)

Each speaker has got a markedness metric (*) to measure a marked code or unmarked one depending on the context. The codeswtiching may be either unmarked which means that it can assert a set of rights and obligations in a conversation, either marked, which may seek to change the balance of rights and obligations, or exploratory, which is used to find the code pointing the set of rights and obligation when the code is unclear.

This theory will allow us to examine the motivations of the choice and functions of languages in communication medium using French and Wolof.

The choice of the language sometimes is random, which may be indeed the case, however can as well mean that the choice is unintentionally done depending on the context. This metric is relative to the social context with the speaker. Spoken French is reflected through text messages as well as other communication technology medium, and French is an unmarked code (default language). It could be the same thing with any other borrowed language (not a national language, i.e. English). (See table 1)

Communicating with older people tends to be very different because we should show respect towards them, therefore, the role of text messages is different: French written in a correct manner, no abbreviations and figures without replacing the code letters shows the unmarked qualification of the language, whereas in oral communication we would probably have used Wolof. Observations show that communication can be in the Wolof language, even if respect and distance characterize the relationship between the speakers. Also, observations have shown that the rule of a correct writing style might not be applied at all time. (See table 2)

Text messages, emails, chat and forums messages are written in a pattern of French, Wolof, and English using code switching by Senegalese people living in Senegal or abroad. Missing your native language might be the reason why someone would prefer writing words down in Wolof rather than French and/or English, although this person is well educated.

Individuals speaking in their own language bring up deep confidence and characteristics in their personality. Therefore emotion might explain the behaviour of those individuals use more a native language (Wolof) in their speech and less French or English. (See table 3)

The other interesting side of the code switching is the emerging use of writing through the linguistic freedom that characterizes text messages, emails, instant messages and chat forums; some people do not master French and mostly have a very low level educational background but still communicate using the Wolof language. (See table 2, messages 2, 3 and 4). In those messages, the interlocutor maintains the rights and obligations while speaking Wolof to me: when I send them text messages, I make sure to write my message down in Wolof, and while reading it will be very easy for them to understand my message.

It seems that through the use of Wolof in different communication technology tools, people

dwell themselves into written communication. This practice provides an opportunity in written communication for people that do not master enough the language mostly used for

writing, as well as people that are often left aside from this communication channel. We can find in communication by using communication technology tools, a potential sustainability of knowledge gained through literacy, and may also represent some motivation, since the usage of writing in these languages (i.e. native languages, mother tongues) is extended to a wider popular usage and modern, reachable to anyone. Going into a long term situation that can lead to an increasing usage of writing in general in order to integrate those people who are excluded.

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The marked code in the different conversation medium may vary. However, code switching can sometimes indicate a shift to the marked code, therefore willing to change across rights and obligations defining communication. This change can affect the privacy between the speakers: when speaker 1 wants to show how sincere he/she is regarding something, speaker 2 changes code, and allow the joke into the conversation. The use of Wolof as the marked code indicates most of the time a very close relationship between both speakers. (See tables 4 and 5)

Text messages between me and people of the same group of age (20-35 years) – Table 1

Original text message

Translation

Comment

fish.jpg1

Your friend T. has displayed such beautiful silk dresses! OMG Awesome!

KMT! This thief!

Oh dear if you’ve seen the different styles, very colorful, trust me!

Lol! Anyway that won’t make me go there! She’s a big thief!

Hey Girl, watch the show later you tell me what happened

We can notice on theses message the choice of language is widely French and Wolof. Urban Wolof is actually used mostly in these conversations even though the default language which is French is the marked code. However it does not have a big impact in the conversation as long as both speakers are comfortable exchanging that way.

mireil.jpg2

Kid I was calling you. Give me a shout when you get this message. Aisha Sy

Hey sweetie I was sleeping, call me

Girl what’s the plan? Still didn’t hear from you…

Sweets, I miss you, what’s up out there? I’m taking care of the business, don’t worry, we’re same! XOXO

xuba.jpg3

I miss you too..[…] you are really having fun […]

Ha stop teasing your sister! Lol I’ll wait for your call

[…]

I’ll call you tomorrow before I leave Insha Allah(God’s Will)

No big deal! […]

Text messages between me and older people (35-50 years and up) – Table 2

Original text message

Translation

Comment

kady.jpg 1

Text already in English

This interlocutor is an old person and I made sure I wrote down correctly my message in one language without shortcuts, only one single word at the beginning of the conversation is different.

bay.jpg 2

Were you calling me this morning?

Non, I called you yesterday

Ok

I will call you tomorrow I’m tired at the moment

Call me

I’m praying

While using the Wolof in here, I make sure that my interlocutors understand my message so I do not put them in an embarrassing situation when I make the decision to speak French otherwise.

However we can see one example on these 3 ones where we have the use of French, but it will affect at all the person I’m speaking with because he understands French but cannot speak it, which is not the case with the two others

diop.jpg 3

Good morning (in Arabic) Diop (name of my interlocutor) it’s Aisha. I wanted to tell you I’m not going to work tomorrow

pam.jpg 4

Don’t you call me please?

Ok give me a sec

I’m at the hospital, will call you when I’m home

Good night I’m going to bed

Call me

Where are you what are you up to didn’t hear from you

Table 3

Image 1

Image 2

The first image is a screenshot from a Senegalese Forum (www.seneweb.com) where the Senegalese Diaspora opens up and exchanges virtually. This page is about Senegalese jokes; anyone in the forum can join and post a joke in Wolof, hence the expression "Mayee Wolof" or Tell a joke in Wolof.

The second image of the table is an email screenshot between me and a friend back in Senegal, where I’m asking for his services regarding a shipment. Again, we notice a code switching in the exchange; a mix of Wolof French and English sometimes. As a matter of fact, Wolof has more its place in this exchange between both of us even though we are educated.

To conclude this linguistic behavior in Senegal, comparing other manifestations of the writing of african languages in Senegal (as we studied here, Wolof), communication through communication technology tools represents modernity, popularity and at some level, the extension of writing. The assumption that communication technology in African languages may widespread the usage of these written languages in other areas of communication, seems to be strengthened. It remains to see whether or not the spread of the corpus and further analysis can consolidate this idea.

Text messages between me and friends - Table 4

Original text message

Translation

Comment

chim.jpg1

I don’t want to go to work tomorrow 

Just don’t go, I’m taking care of it, whoever wants to bully you, call me

Aw that is fantastic! Are you going to work at my place?

Yes , I’ll do that for you darling

Then sleep in tomorrow!

1 and 2 is male

3 and 4 female

Observations show that interlocutors are very close to each other. As a matter of fact, they carry very casual conversations by teasing each other, showing affection, care, love, hate, ect.

Those feelings are expressed using code switching most of the time using French Wolof and very few English words. The communication is going on this way because of the background we all are coming from (education, ethnic group, ect.).

chim3.jpg2

Young girl what are you doing?

Young girl is fine, chilling 

I’m coming to your house to take a nap

No problem I’ll put the mattress for you lol

fish2.jpg3

I’m home, come over

Make some tea

Lol you pay for your cup, thousand per cup

Lol you cheeky! Don’t even think about it

When are you coming? Tea is finishing!

Is there any remaining?

fish3.jpg4

Oh yeah? How is Ramadan? Are you even fasting? You don’t seem to

Go away! My fasting none of your business!