When language revitalisation transcends linguistic issues: Motivations for the revitalisation of Tonga

Abstract

This article presents findings from research on Tonga language revitalisation. Tonga is a formerly marginalised indigenous language spoken in north-western Zimbabwe. It is part of Zimbabwe’s linguistic ecology comprising 16 officially recognised languages that exist in a polyglossic situation. The Tonga community recently embarked on a bottom-up language planning approach to revitalise their language, contrary to the traditional macro-level language planning, which is normally top-down. Through semi-structured interviews, the study explores the Tonga speakers’ motivations for the revitalisation of their language. The study also aims to test the usability of Karan’s (2008) taxonomy of language choice motivations as presented in his perceived benefit model of language shift. The findings point to the fact that the linguistic war that the Tonga community have been fighting is fuelled by various agendas. Although on the surface the Tonga people seemed to be dealing with a linguistic issue, the ripple effects touch on other pragmatic considerations such as political, social, economic and educational issues, issues that deal directly with end-user needs, both at individual and community level. Karan’s model was found useful in analysing motivations for revitalisation.