Language Influence and Culture: Comments on the Impact of English on Shona
Author(s)
Ngara, Emmanuel
Abstract
Penetration of a dominant language into a subordinate language can be positive or negative depending on whether it diminishes the subordinate language’s distinctiveness or enhances its use in the modern world. The impact of English on Shona in Zimbabwe has had a profound effect on Zimbabwean culture because peoples’ names were changed to English during Christian baptism while other culturally significant terms were replaced by borrowings such as the names of the months. Zimbabwe needs to encourage the survival of Shona as a trade language and give it equal status with English.
