Universität zu Köln

Nassenstein, Nico (2016). The new urban youth language Yabacrane in Goma (DR Congo). Socioling. Stud., 10 (1-2). S. 235 - 260. SHEFFIELD: EQUINOX PUBLISHING LTD. ISSN 1750-8657

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Abstract

Yabacrane is a Kiswahili-based youth language practice used by youths in Goma, Eastern Democratic Republic (DR) of the Congo, where distinctive language usage marks speakers' identity and community of practice. Yabacrane reveals salient features which do not coincide with characteristics typical of other youth language practices in Africa. The gangster image and violent behavior, aggravated by the prevailing conflict zone in Eastern DR Congo, as well as a tough 'street image', are the central points of reference for Yabacrane speakers. Unlike neighboring youth languages in the Great Lakes region, Yabacrane is no longer limited to urban spaces; furthermore, speakers draw heavily on other (remote) youth languages in DR Congo such as Lingala-based Yanke (spoken in Kinshasa), especially through music and social media. Besides speakers' phonological and semantic manipulations, the present paper aims to take cross-geographical fluidity into account in order to describe the trajectories that new terms pass through before they are eventually diffused within the community. Moreover, as an innovative approach, the paper also takes some deliberate modifications in pragmatics, namely politeness strategies and linguistic taboos, into consideration.(1)

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Nassenstein, Nico UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-289845
DOI:	10.1558/sols.v10i1-2.27925
Journal or Publication Title:	Socioling. Stud.
Volume:	10
Number:	1-2
Page Range:	S. 235 - 260
Date:	2016
Publisher:	EQUINOX PUBLISHING LTD
Place of Publication:	SHEFFIELD
ISSN:	1750-8657
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Linguistics Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/28984