Description
This paper reflects on sociolinguistic theories, key to studying popular language jargon that characterizes informal oral communication between members of a speech community. Our research population is ‘matatu’ touts and drivers in Kenya. The objective of this research is to investigate dialogism in which we observe interrelatedness in sub-languages embedded in Kiswahili and Kikuyu and how meaning is obtained through interaction.
In this paper, I argue that ‘matatu' touts and drivers in Kenya have developed a coded language of communication to facilitate fluid interaction.
The findings of this study illustrate that this jargon is affected by factors such as complementarity, opposition, conflict or competition to other sub-languages within in a single language. Albeit structurally different, this language respects the basic morphosyntactical principles in various language registers, be it spoken, written, or informal oral communication within the confines of the given context
