Umbundu language: ways for its preservation

Abstract

The present paper exposes the linguistic situation of Kuito, capital of the province of Bié, starting from a historical perspective. More specifically it aims to ascertain the use of Portuguese and Umbundu as mother tongues and/or second languages. Besides presenting historical information of the linguistic contact between Portuguese and the Umbundu language, this article addresses the linguistic situation raised at the time of the 2014 population census. From the point of view of the procedures and techniques used, this work is constructed as a bibliographic or documental research, combined with a case study approach. The emphasis given to the bibliographic research allowed a diversified collection of information, producing a critical theoretical foundation. A survey was carried out with parents and guardians, teachers of primary education and first cycle of secondary education and students of a higher education institution to serve the purposes of the exploratory research approach. These surveys aimed at verifying the presence of the Umbundu language in the daily communication life of Kuito’s inhabitants. The application of the survey will determine the percentage of speakers who have Umbundu and Portuguese as their mother tongue (L1) and those who have it as a second language (L2). We will also highlight the factors that weaken Umbundu as a language of communication among the inhabitants of Kuito, trying to point out ways to counter this tendency.