Multilingual Issues

4.2 Results of the Jula Bilingualism Test 16

  Table 4.2.1 presents the results of the Jula Sentence Repetition Test. The test was administered in 10 villages spanning the southern Bwamu region. In choosing the sites, we divided the southern area into four subregions, and as well we tried to conduct tests in at least one village with much ethnic contact and one village with supposedly less ethnic contact for each of these different subregions. For example, in the area east of the Mouhoun River, Kabourou was the choice for a village with little interethnic contact, as it has few non-Bwaba, while Payalo, only 13 Bwamu, represents those villages with much interethnic contact. Table 4.2.1 summarizes the choice of villages.

  16 R. Berger contributed important parts to this section.

  Table 4.2.1 Choice of Test Sites for Jula Sentence Repetition Test

  Presumed Presumed

  Ratio of

  to Have

  to Have

  Bwaba with

  Little

  Greater

  Little vs.

  East of the

  Kabourou Payalo

  Payalo is 13 Bwamu, 23

  25: much

  Mouhoun

  Nuni, while Kabourou has few

  Koti has much contact with

  Puguli. Pâ, of course, has

  35 little

  Pâ

  become a travel stop on the main highway, and has an increasing number of non- Bwaba. Founzan is on a less- frequented road than Pâ, but has a mix of ethnic groups.

  Bagassi area Badio

  Mamou

  Mamou is on the main road

  35 much

  between Bagassi and Yaho

  65 little

  and quite near some Marka villages; Badio is somewhat removed.

  Southwestern none

  Sébédougou, We assumed that

  75 much

  Bwamu area tested

  Koumbia

  Sébédougou would represent

  25 little

  (closest to

  villages with little interethnic

  Bobo-

  contact; on testing, we

  Dioulasso)

  discovered that there are many Mossis and Peuls in the area. Koumbia is on the main highway to Bobo-Dioulasso.

  At least five, though usually 7 or 8, people from six different population subgroups were tested. The subgroups are defined according to sex and age: young male and young female (age 12–25); adult male and adult female (age 25–45); and older male and older female (over 45). Unfortunately, the sampling is not random in the strict At least five, though usually 7 or 8, people from six different population subgroups were tested. The subgroups are defined according to sex and age: young male and young female (age 12–25); adult male and adult female (age 25–45); and older male and older female (over 45). Unfortunately, the sampling is not random in the strict

  A comparison was made of the SRT means of the Cwi, Laa laa, and Dakwi dialects for the purpose of determining and comparing their proficiency in Jula. The villages representing the Cwi dialect (Kabourou, Payalo, Koti, Founzan, and Kovio) had

  a combined SRT mean of 13.03; the Laa laa dialect villages of Pâ, Bodíe, and Mamou had a combined SRT mean of 16.44; and the Dakwi dialect villages of Koumbia and Sébédougou had a combined mean of 21.70. The SRT means and standard deviations of the dialects and each of the villages representing the dialects are presented in table

  4.2.2. The analysis of variance found a highly significant difference among the three dialect groups (p < 0.001 ), but no significant differences were found for main effects of sex or age, nor were any interactions significant.

  The results of these comparisons provided a basis for language development priorities. The level of proficiency in Jula for the Dakwi dialect was relatively high at

  21.70 which predicted an RPE mean level 3. When compared to the low proficiency levels of 13.03 and 16.44 for the other two dialects, priority in language development was assigned to speakers of the Cwi and Laa laa dialects.

  Table 4.2.2 Means and Standard Deviations of SRT Scores for the Bwamu People Group According to Villages, Age, and Sex

  Number of P

  Deviation

  Test Takers

  Bodíe

  Sébédougou

  17 Two factors make scientifically random sampling extremely difficult to achieve. Firstly, they are very time-consuming. Secondly, villagers may either be unavailable or refuse to be

  tested.

  Number of P

  Deviation

  Test Takers

  Village x Sex

  Koti x F

  Koti x M

  Foun x F

  Foun x M

  Kovio x F

  Kovio x M

  Koum x F

  Koum x M

  Sébé x F

  Sébé xM

  Number of P

  Deviation

  Test Takers

  Village x Age

  Kab x 12–25

  12.29 2.08 14 ns

  Kab x 26–45

  Pay x 12–25

  Pay x 26–45

  Koti x 12–25

  Koti x 26–45

  Koti x 46+

  Foun x 12–25

  Foun x 26–45

  Foun x 46+

  Kovio x 12–25

  Kovio x 26–45

  Kovio x 46+

  Pâ x 12–25

  Pâ x 26–45

  Bod x 12–25

  Bod x 26–45

  Mam x 12–25

  Mam x 26–45

  Koum x 12–25

  Koum x 26–45

  Koum x 46+

  Sébé x 12–25

  Sébé x 26–45

  Sébé x 46+

  Sex x Age

  F x 12–25

  15.68 0.92 72 sig

  F x 26–45

  M x 12–25

  M x 26–45

  M x 46+

4.3 Language Attitudes

  According to the answers to our questionnaires, French is seen as a prestige language; in most cases, mastering it is one prerequisite to getting a good job. Nevertheless, fairly few do master it, and once out of school and settled in normal village life, most gradually lose some of their ability through disuse.

  Jula, of course, is the language that most Bwaba use as their second language. In many villages, the Bwaba see learning Jula as important; it is the means to communicate with those of other ethnic groups. Their attitudes, however, are based on the necessities of their situations; they are attracted to it for its usefulness. It is clear that the real language of the heart is Bwamu. The Bwaba attitudes are most clearly revealed when they answer questions concerning the language choice of their religious practices. When it comes to conducting the important cultural practices, the Bwaba state that using Jula is out of the question. It is only at Kongolikan, less than 100 km from Bobo, that Bwaba can see a day when their descendants will no longer speak their mother tongue.

4.4 Summary

  Though the Bwaba subjects as a whole showed a moderate competence in Jula, it seems clear they reserve the use of Jula for communication with outsiders. By contrast, they hold strongly positive attitudes toward the different varieties of Bwamu. Speakers of the southern varieties are strongly attached to their mother tongue, which suggests that the best results of literacy and language development work will almost certainly come through the local variety. It would be a shame to not take advantage of their desire to read and write in it.

  A final reminder, however: in certain areas of the southern Bwamu region, bilingualism in Jula is a topic that will require further attention in the future. In the Founzan and southwestern Bwamu areas, where there exists the greatest amounts of interethnic contact, one must continue to look for signs of shifting attitudes.