Factors contributing to language shift from Kindibu to Lingala in the rural municipality of Kwilu-Ngongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

After investigating language shift in Kongo Central, mainly in the rural municipality of Kwilu-Ngongo, the researcher discloses seven factors which account for the shift from Kindibu, a variety of Kikongo, to Lingala: historical, geographical, economic, religious, cultural, educational and psychological factors. The results obtained through a data collection methodology involving unstructured interviews and observation reveal that the economic and psychological factors tend to be the major ones in the language shift.