EXCESSIVE USE OF SHENG LANGUAGE A MAJOR HURDLE FOR THE YOUTHS TO COMMUNICATE FLUENTLY IN ENGLISH, KISWAHILI

Sheng is a slang and a combination of two languages, namely Swahili and English and used mostly by the youth. The language comes to life by cutting-off the final syllables of words and coming up with syllables to complete the words.

Over the years, the language has taken different twists and turns as words are updated every now and then which makes keeping up quite a tall order.

For example, sheng words used in early 2000s may not really fit in with today’s generation. They would refer you as “nongwe” to say you are not smart or failing to comprehend things in a quick way. This would communicate that one should rise to the occasion or “changamka” as they say to move with the times.

Sheng is not a language taught in schools. It is a language for and by the youth to converse in the streets and among themselves. The youths enjoy the privacy that comes with the language knowing that folks in the older generation cannot comprehend what they are saying.

The generation today has modified the sheng language further by introducing the Shembeteng version. This version has its supporters and critics in equal measure. The critics site annoyance in those that embrace it, unnecessary addition of letters to the existing sheng words for example ‘nakulove’, which translates to ‘I love you’, would be pronounced as ‘nakulombotov’. ‘Kusota’, which loosely translates to ‘being broke’, would be pronounced as ‘kusombotota’.

The overuse of this language would see adverse effects on the youth for failure to communicate as they should in English and Kiswahili when expected for example in job interviews where official languages are used. In this regard, etiquette becomes a problem. It complicates the education of a child. They fail to be conversant with other languages taught in school which would in turn make them fall behind in class.

Rifts would be formed between parents and their teens as there isn’t a common language they would enjoy.

In other words, whether sheng or shembeteng, the language has more cons than pros. It would be wise for the youth to put a limit on the slang and embrace Standard English and Kiswahili for better communication experience regardless of age group.

One Comment

  1. The Ministry of Education should really intervene and protect the national languages. This is a disaster waiting to happen if they decide to ignore this.

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