Negotiating Authority between Family Members at Work in Iringa, Tanzania: Analysis of Multilingual Practices in an Interaction

Abstract

This article focuses on a single interaction taking place in a tree nursery located in a village of the Iringa Region in Tanzania. In a country which built its unity around one language, Swahili, this article intends to show how code-switching between the local language (Hehe) and the national language (Swahili) is crucial in everyday practices. Through the analysis of an interaction between family members assuming the roles of boss and employees I show how code-switching is used to achieve the delicate task of discussing work efficiency and compensation in this particular context. Through this specific example, this article aims to underline the importance of the local language in the multilingual practices of speakers from Iringa, Tanzania.