Cultural creolisation and language use in post-colonial Africa: the case of Senegal

Abstract

Scholars have recently begun to describe a speech form emerging in post-colonial cities which reflects the creative melding or ‘creolisation’ of elements from indigenous and former colonial cultures. These ‘urban varieties’ are not, strictly speaking, Creoles but rather indigenous languages whose structures and lexicons have been adapted to the complexities of urban life. A primary characteristic of such varieties is their ‘devernacularisation’. No longer tied to the cultural values represented by the languages in their more traditional forms, they reflect instead the new values and way of life found in the urban centres where they are spoken. This article, based on fieldwork conducted in Senegal between 1986 and 1989, describes the formation and role of one such urban linguistic variety, Urban Wolof. In particular, it focuses on Dakarois’ conflicting tendencies to accept Urban Wolof in Dakar as the most pragmatic form of urban communication while rejecting it as evidence of an undesirable creolisation between indigenous and French culture.

Ethnic identity and linguistic hybridization in Senegal

“…This view is consonant with Swigart (1994) who argued that the Senegalese urban people have become ''culturally creolized'' and are divided between their pride in traditional roots and the influence of the Western culture. Today, each of the languages and varieties plays specific functional roles in certain geographical locations and is associated with particular ethnic groups and regional identity in the country.…”

“…I use ''urban'' vs. ''pure'' Wolof to distinguish the two major varieties of Wolof spoken in the country. According to Swigart (1994), ''urban'' Wolof refers to a wide range of linguistic forms that are commonly used in major urban areas. Although ''urban'' Wolof di¤ers from ''pure'' Wolof in phonology and structure, the major di¤erences between these varieties are found in the lexicon (due to extensive borrowings from French in ''urban'' Wolof ).…”

Linguistic borrowing as evidence of the social history of the Senegalese speech community

“…In this respect, based upon the mixed lexical repertoire of Wolof speakers, Senegal can be regarded as a hybrid society (Swigart 1994), with one part Wolof culture, another French culture, and another Arabic culture. In fact, in Senegal the European, the Muslim, and the African culture are neatly interwoven to form a hybrid society in which individuals alternate European clothes with traditional clothes and Muslim ones, and where people celebrate Muslim, Christian, and cultural holidays in harmony.…”

The social status of Arabic, French, and English in the Senegalese speech community

“…Such social stigmatization of English words in the Senegalese urban youth's speech is reported by Swigart (1994). Such social stigmatization of English words in the Senegalese urban youth's speech is reported by Swigart (1994).…”