Kimbu speakers' attitudes toward language endangerment

This article is based on a study that assesses the attitudes towards language endangerment of Kimbu speakers, a minority language spoken in the Chunya and Sikonge Districts in Tanzania. The study used a descriptive approach to assess whether Kimbu speakers have developed negative attitudes towards their language, have ambivalent language loyalty and are indifferent about language transfer to children. Data for this study were collected through interviews with 50 Kimbu speakers. The study revealed that most of the Kimbu parents and younger generation are ambivalent and indifferent about their language, and they have developed negative attitudes towards it, claiming that it has no socio-economic and educational significance. Because of such a situation, they have ceased using it in most genuine and natural domains like home and other social functions in favour of other co-existing languages. The study concludes that the Kimbu language is relatively unsafe from endangerment. The recommendation is made that Kimbu speakers should be told of the importance of ethnic community languages and that they make a symbolic identity, therefore teaching their children the language and encouraging the use of it everywhere in the community will pave the way to positive attitudes, and ensure language vitality.