“Is this Language Standard?” A General Survey on Swahili Computer-Mediated Communication

Abstract

The written language has preserved its traditional characteristics for centuries. However, Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) seems to pose a threat to this longstanding tradition, introducing new styles that challenge the established norms. Consequently, two opposing camps have emerged: the "conservatives" who decry the CMC language for breaking traditional writing rules, and the "liberals" who embrace its evolution. This study analyses the features of Swahili CMC. Data was collected between 2015 and 2023 from three social media platforms, namely Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Data analysis was carried out using a qualitative approach. The results reveal that Swahili online users employ a variety of fashionable Swahili styles, some of which encounter resistance from certain users, sometimes leading to heated debates about the appropriateness of CMC. It is suggested that, as long as the use of CMC is confined to informal communicative settings, it should be regarded as part of youth culture and a distinctive communicative practice.