Sheng (language)

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Sheng is a language spoken in the slums of major cities in Kenya . For outsiders or adults, only passages or fragments of words are to be understood. It follows the generally accepted laws of youth language . The young people use the most common languages ​​in the slum in an eclectic way . In Nairobi these are z. B. Swahili , Kikuyu , Luo , Luhya and Kamba , but also English. Grammar, syntax and vocabulary mostly come from Swahili.

The development began in the 1970s among youth in the slums of Nairobi. Sheng is now spoken in other major cities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and is particularly widespread among companions and collectors of the often overcrowded collective taxes ( matatus ), the Manambas, as well as among market traders and hairdressers. Sheng has overcome the language barriers in popular broadcasts on radio, television and print media, and has reached high-level language in single words or phrases. There are sometimes small dictionaries in the newspapers that translate Sheng.

It is especially popular in rap and hip-hop music . The musicians in turn influence the Sheng with their word creations and language variations. Similar to Swahili, Sheng is increasingly assuming the role of a lingua franca .

Examples

  • Mother = masa
  • Father = mbuyu
  • Money = bakes or chapaa
  • Music = flava or mahewa
  • I love you = nimekunoki
  • House = keja
  • Class, school = aladhe
  • Policeman = mahindra / ponye

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