7 - Somali Language and Oral Tradition in Post-conflict Life in the US: What Does the Future Hold?
Corresponding Author(s) : Eddah Mutua-Kombo
Africa Media Review,
Vol. 17 No. 1-2 (2009): Africa Media Review, Volume 17, no 1 & 2, 2009
Abstract
As global conflicts increasingly force people to leave their homelands, it is important we become aware of the issues that impact on different aspects of refugees’ lives in foreign lands. A variety of problems are associated with forced migration, notably challenges of cultural adaptation such as language issues, cultural assimilation, cultural adaptation, identity, loss of social networks of relatives, friends and neighbours, harsh climates, racism and so on. This article discusses some of the concerns expressed by Somali refugees living in Mid- West United States of America. They fear that the Somali language and oral traditions might be lost if attempts are not made to preserve them. Specifically, the authors examine the efforts to and challenges of preserving the language and oral traditions in a post-conflict setting. The article concludes by pointing to a question about the future of third generation Somali-Americans who have adapted the English language and see no economic and social benefits in the Somali language for them.
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- Adam, A., 2005, Somalia and the Somalis: A Handbook for Teachers, St. Paul, MN: St. Paul Public Schools ELL Programs.
- Briton Putman, D. and Cabdi Noor, M., 1993, Somalis — Their History and Cul- ture. [Brochure].
- Baltimore: Published by Center for Applied Linguistics. Re- trieved December 6, 2006, from http://www.cal.org/CO/somali/index.html.
- Combs, C., 1998, An Ethnographic Case Study of a 7-Year-old Boy With Autism: The Meaning that Emerged from Bud’s Mannerisms, Department of Curricu- lum and Instruction, Wichita State University.
- Davis, W., 1999, ‘Vanishing Cultures’, National Geographical, 196, pp.62-89. Fishman, J., 2000, ‘Reversing Language Shift: RLS Theory and Practice Revisited’, in G. Kindell and M. Paul Lewis, eds., Assessing Ethnolinguistic Vitality: Theory and Practice, Dallas, TX: SIL International.
- Greenwood, D. J. and Levin, M., 1998, Introduction to Action Research: Social Research for Social Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
- Hubbard, R. S. and Power, B. M., 1993, ‘Finding and Framing a Research Question’, in L. Patterson, C. M. Santa, K. G. Short and K. Smith, eds., Teachers are Researchers: Reflection and Action (pp. 19-25). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
- Jones, A., ed., 2004, Genocide, War Crimes and the West: History and Complicity. London: Zed Books.
- Lincoln, Y., 1990, ‘The Making of a Constructivist’, in E. Guba, ed., The Paradigm Dialogue: Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, pp.67-87.
- Lustig, M. and Koester, J., 2006, Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Com- munication Across Cultures. San Franscisco, CA: Pearson Education, Inc.
- Martin, J. and Nakayama, T., 2008, Intercultural Communication in Context. New York: McGrawHill.
- Maykut, P. and Morehouse, R., 1994, Beginning Qualitative Research: A Philo- sophic and Practical Guide, London: Falmer.
- Meredith, M., 2005, The Fate of Africa: From the Hopes of freedom to the Heart of Despair, New York: Public Affairs.
- The Minneapolis Foundation, 2004, Immigration in Minnesota: Discovering Common Ground,[Brochure], Minneapolis, MN.
- Nogueira, C., 2003, ‘Oral Tradition: A Definition’, Oral Tradition, 18(2), 164. Okpewho, I., 1985,
- The Heritage of African Poetry: An Anthology of Oral and Written Poetry. Essex, England: Longman Group Limited.
- Okpewho, I., 1992, African Oral Literature: Backgrounds, Character and Conti- nuity, Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
- Paulston, C. B., 2000, ‘Ethnicity, Ethnic Movements and Language Maintenance’, in G. Kindell and M.
- Paul Lewis, eds., Assessing Ethnolinguistic Vitality: Theory and Practice. Dallas, TX: SIL International.
- Prunier, G., 1995, Somalia: Civil War, Intervention and Withdrawal 1990-1995. Retrieved December 21, 2007, from http://www.asylumlaw.org/docs/somalia/ country_conditions/Prunier.pdf
- Richardson, L., 1994, ‘Writing: A Method of Inquiry’, in N. K. Denzin and Y. S. Lincoln, eds., Handbook of Qualitative Research, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
- Schmidt, S., Morland, L. and Rose, J., 2006, Growing up in a New Country: A Positive Youth Development Toolkit for Working with Refugees and Immi- grants, Cleveland, OH: Catholic Charities Health & Human Services/Migra- tion and Refugee Services.
- Smith, L. T., 2005, Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peo- ples. London, UK: Zed Books.
- The Economist, 2005, 17 December, ‘A State of Utter Failure’, The Economist, 377: 8457, p. 46.
- Tse, L., 2001, “Why Don’t They Learn English?” Separating Fact from Fallacy in the U.S. Language Debate, New York: Teacher College Press.
References
Adam, A., 2005, Somalia and the Somalis: A Handbook for Teachers, St. Paul, MN: St. Paul Public Schools ELL Programs.
Briton Putman, D. and Cabdi Noor, M., 1993, Somalis — Their History and Cul- ture. [Brochure].
Baltimore: Published by Center for Applied Linguistics. Re- trieved December 6, 2006, from http://www.cal.org/CO/somali/index.html.
Combs, C., 1998, An Ethnographic Case Study of a 7-Year-old Boy With Autism: The Meaning that Emerged from Bud’s Mannerisms, Department of Curricu- lum and Instruction, Wichita State University.
Davis, W., 1999, ‘Vanishing Cultures’, National Geographical, 196, pp.62-89. Fishman, J., 2000, ‘Reversing Language Shift: RLS Theory and Practice Revisited’, in G. Kindell and M. Paul Lewis, eds., Assessing Ethnolinguistic Vitality: Theory and Practice, Dallas, TX: SIL International.
Greenwood, D. J. and Levin, M., 1998, Introduction to Action Research: Social Research for Social Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
Hubbard, R. S. and Power, B. M., 1993, ‘Finding and Framing a Research Question’, in L. Patterson, C. M. Santa, K. G. Short and K. Smith, eds., Teachers are Researchers: Reflection and Action (pp. 19-25). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Jones, A., ed., 2004, Genocide, War Crimes and the West: History and Complicity. London: Zed Books.
Lincoln, Y., 1990, ‘The Making of a Constructivist’, in E. Guba, ed., The Paradigm Dialogue: Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, pp.67-87.
Lustig, M. and Koester, J., 2006, Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Com- munication Across Cultures. San Franscisco, CA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Martin, J. and Nakayama, T., 2008, Intercultural Communication in Context. New York: McGrawHill.
Maykut, P. and Morehouse, R., 1994, Beginning Qualitative Research: A Philo- sophic and Practical Guide, London: Falmer.
Meredith, M., 2005, The Fate of Africa: From the Hopes of freedom to the Heart of Despair, New York: Public Affairs.
The Minneapolis Foundation, 2004, Immigration in Minnesota: Discovering Common Ground,[Brochure], Minneapolis, MN.
Nogueira, C., 2003, ‘Oral Tradition: A Definition’, Oral Tradition, 18(2), 164. Okpewho, I., 1985,
The Heritage of African Poetry: An Anthology of Oral and Written Poetry. Essex, England: Longman Group Limited.
Okpewho, I., 1992, African Oral Literature: Backgrounds, Character and Conti- nuity, Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
Paulston, C. B., 2000, ‘Ethnicity, Ethnic Movements and Language Maintenance’, in G. Kindell and M.
Paul Lewis, eds., Assessing Ethnolinguistic Vitality: Theory and Practice. Dallas, TX: SIL International.
Prunier, G., 1995, Somalia: Civil War, Intervention and Withdrawal 1990-1995. Retrieved December 21, 2007, from http://www.asylumlaw.org/docs/somalia/ country_conditions/Prunier.pdf
Richardson, L., 1994, ‘Writing: A Method of Inquiry’, in N. K. Denzin and Y. S. Lincoln, eds., Handbook of Qualitative Research, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Schmidt, S., Morland, L. and Rose, J., 2006, Growing up in a New Country: A Positive Youth Development Toolkit for Working with Refugees and Immi- grants, Cleveland, OH: Catholic Charities Health & Human Services/Migra- tion and Refugee Services.
Smith, L. T., 2005, Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peo- ples. London, UK: Zed Books.
The Economist, 2005, 17 December, ‘A State of Utter Failure’, The Economist, 377: 8457, p. 46.
Tse, L., 2001, “Why Don’t They Learn English?” Separating Fact from Fallacy in the U.S. Language Debate, New York: Teacher College Press.