Language Choice and Accommodation in Environmental Signs in Nyanza, Kenya: A Systemic Functional Linguistics Perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine patterns of language choice in environmental signage in Nyanza, Kenya. While environmental signs are essential tools of communication for conveying ecological messages to target audiences, the focus here is not on accommodation strategies per se but on how linguistic diversity is reflected in the choices of language used. Environmentalists employ signage as a medium to reach varied audiences, and this study seeks to uncover the underlying patterns of language selection that shape the communicative effectiveness of these signs. Given that Nyanza, Kenya, is a multilingual region, developers of environmental signs in this region must choose the language to use. Thus, the main objective of this study was to analyse the functional implications of the linguistic choices of developers of environmental signs in the urban and peri-urban areas of three counties, including Kisumu, Kisii and Migori counties. The environmental signs were photographed, after which the texts written on them were transcribed for analysis. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Findings reveal that most environmental signs in Nyanza, Kenya, are written in English. Swahili-only environmental signs came second to English-only environmental signs. There were also significant instances of English-Swahili code switching. Indigenous languages were featured only in the environmental signs that were studied. The study is significant because it highlights the functional state of language in environmental conservation in Nyanza, Kenya. An analysis of the language of environmental preservation is vital, given the multilingual state of the study area. The study triggers deep insights into the linkages between language and the environment.