AN OVERVIEW OF THE SOCIOLINGUISTIC SITUATION OF KUPSAPINY, A SOUTHERN NILOTIC LANGUAGE OF UGANDA

Abstract

This study reports on the sociolinguistic situation of Kupsapiny, the Southern Nilotic language spoken by the Sebei people in the Sebei region of Uganda. Even though the Sebei are highly conservative in various respects, Kupsapiny has been losing its vitality. Primarily because the history of the people has been adverse to the maintenance of their language, it has undergone considerable change under the infl uence of English, Swahili, and Lugisu (Bantu). In order to revitalize Kupsapiny, its use in schools, which is currently limited to grade one through grade four in public schools, should be extended through primary education at least. Prior to this, however, the language needs to develop a written system.