HARMONIZING THE ORTHOGRAPHIES OF BANTU LANGUAGES

THE CASE OF GĨKŨYŨ AND EKEGUSII IN KENYA

Abstract

Despite the multiplicity of African languages, available literature on the development of these languages points to the need to have their orthographies harmonized and standardized. This is because properly designed orthographies can play a monumental role in promoting their use in all spheres of life, and hence contribute to Africa’s socioeconomic development. Such harmonization is practical, especially among languages such as Gĩkŭyŭ and Ekegusii, two distinct Kenyan Bantu languages that are mutually intelligible. This paper examines how similar or dissimilar their phonologies and orthographies are, with a view to proposing how they can be harmonized. The paper concludes that there are benefits that can accrue from such harmonization efforts, especially because there will be greater availability of literacy materials accessible to the speakers of the two languages.