There are more than 55 million people in Kenya, a large country on the eastern coast of Africa known for its diverse landscapes, beaches, and wildlife. Kenya also has a large number of accents due to its broad range of more than 30 languages and dialects. The accent spoken depends on the region and tribal accent spoken. Here are the most prominent.
What is an Accent?
An accent is a distinctive way of pronouncing a language and can reveal the speaker’s place of residence or origins, who they live around, and sometimes their social class.
You have one too, although you may not realize it. But if you’re from the U.S. South, for example, imagine how you must sound to someone in Massachusetts.
English in Kenya
English came to Kenya when the United Kingdom colonized the country in 1895. At that time, the East Africa Protectorate was established. Some 25 years later, a colony was established.
At the time of colonization, Swahili was established as a trade language in the majority of the Swahili Coast and was also used in education. The British subsequently mitigated the influence of Swahili and, in Kenyan schools, made English the medium of instruction.
In fact, English was officially used through Kenya’s independence in 1963. Kenya’s official languages are English and Swahili, with Swahili also the country’s national language.
Although English is not spoken as commonly in Kenya as other native languages, it’s the main language used in schools, government, and media. Resultantly, nearly all Kenyans know some English.
Top Accents in Kenya
Kenyan English
Kenyan English is the most prominent accent in Kenya and is described as being striking and recognizable. It is a mix of British English with influences from Swahili and a number of local tribal languages, especially Kikuyu and others from the Bantu languages.
Influences from Nilotic languages such as Dholuo are also impactful. Together, these influences make for a distinct accent with particular features that are not found in standard British English.
Kenyan English, like English in most of England, is classified as non-rhotic. Primarily phonological features include the lack of mid central and length contrast in vowels, the dissolution of consonant clusters, and pure vowel sounds.
Those who live in rural areas, or don’t speak English as a first language, may also engage in what’s called code mixing — using words from a local language while speaking English. For example, while speaking English, some Kenyans use the word “andyu,” which indicates agreement with someone.
The practice of “shrubbing” — using a non-standard pronunciation of English words due to the influence of local languages — is less likely with upper-class residents or those who don’t speak an indigenous Kenyan language.
Thus, those who live in rural areas, or those who learned English as a second language, are more likely to engage in the linguistic practice. This is done by supplanting a word’s consonant sound with another of a similar place of articulation. For example, pronouncing the “sh” in sugar as “s” or “liver” as “river” and vice versa.
Because English in Kenya is commonly spoken as a second language, Kenyans tend to eschew the 20-vowel system of English for the Swahili five-vowel system. As a result, the words “hut,” “hat,” “heart,” and “hurt,” for example, all sound similar because they all follow the same /a/ vowel sound.
The Gigicugu Accent
The Gigicugu accent, or dialect, is spoken by those who use the Kikuyu language, It’s mainly spoken in Kenya’s Central Province, and does not have the “sh” or “ch” sounds. Rather, the “s” sound is used. The distinct tonal patterns of Gigicugu can be heard in the coffee-growing areas of Marigiti, Kathunguri, Githure, and Kianyaga. In conversation, those with the accent easily switch to other Kikuyu accents with the rest of the Kikuyu.
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The South Nyanza Accent
South Nyanza is an accent of Dholuo, a dialect of the Luo language, and is used in churches, broadcasting, and education. It’s spoken in various parts of the Central Nyanza province and in various parts of South Nyanza. Most of its syllables end in a vowel and, with the exception of syllable boundaries, there are no consonant clusters. The accent is distinguished by what’s called tongue root, which means that the vowel is produced by pulling the tongue’s root forward. This adds a breathy quality to the vowel.
The Sheng Accent
Swahili has contributed a new accent, or dialect, that’s commonly spoken in Kenya’s cities, particularly in Nairobi, and especially by the country’s urban youths. Called Sheng, it uses a combination of the syntax and grammar of Swahili but incorporates English and other languages. Each population group — school mates and football teams, for example — has its own Sheng style and distinct vocabulary. While Sheng developed organically among the marginalized people of Nairobi’s slums, it has moved up and become a characteristic of cosmopolitan “coolness.”
The Luo Accent
This accent is easily identified by the elongation of vowels and the use of “s” instead of “sh.” This elongation among the Luo and Adhola people is said to have developed after interaction with the people of the Kakamega Forest and Mount Elgon. It converts a high-pitched word to a low pitch. Take the Luo word “mier,” for instance, and the Acholi word “myer.” While they both mean “village,” “mier” uses an “i” to prolong pronunciation, while the use of “y” in “myer” emphasizes sharpness.
Call Centers, Accent Bias, and Tomato.ai
Kenya’s rich and varied accents notwithstanding, the truth is that, when it comes to how people speak, individuals are naturally biased. That can be problematic, especially for those in jobs that call for a great deal of verbal communication.
Offshore call center agents are Exhibit A. For many of them, English is a second, third, or even fourth language. As such, they commonly face accent bias. When communicating with these representatives, callers often subject them to frustration, impatience, and overall rudeness. Due exclusively to their accent, these agents sometimes even have their competence questioned.
As a result, many of them become burned out, adding to already-high attrition rates. On top of that, the customer experience is poor. Both can unfavorably impact the centers’ bottom line.
We have the answer.
The call center industry is swiftly transforming, with us at the fore. Our AI-driven technology modifies the agent’s accent, making it sound more like the listener. And the coolest thing is, the modification happens in real time, as the words are being spoken. As a result, agents and callers are happier, and call centers perform better.