Item Details

Sango, a homogenous language with religiolectal and sociolectal varieties

Issue: Vol 14 No. 3 (2020) Special Issue: African sociolinguistics between urbanity and rurality

Subject Areas: Gender Studies Linguistics

Abstract:

The article tackles the development of varieties of Sango. The language developed following the scramble for the area on both sides of the Ubangi river. Its development and expansion was enhanced by French colonial administration and Christian missions. From the beginning of colonisation it functioned as a means of communication all over UbangiShari between Europeans, their non-local auxiliaries and the local population. Its use as a vehicular made the language very homogenous. When Catholic and Protestant missionaries separately reduced Sango to writing and published religious and educational texts, written varieties developed, which show clear religiolectal features. The vernacularisation of the language in Bangui was accompanied by socio-economic and educational stratification which led to the emergence of three varieties: Common Sango, the language used for everyday communication; Standard Sango, an idealised form of the language; and SangoGodobé, a low-prestige variety.

Author: Helma Pasch

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