Fouta-Djallon linguistic ecology: Between polyglossia and small-scale multilingualism

Aims and objectives: The aim is to investigate, at the level of language ideology and language practice, a hybrid type of multilingualism attested in Guinea. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis is done in the framework of small-scale multilingualism studies, exploring, at the same time, the boundaries of the notion ‘small-scale multilingualism’. Data and analysis: The analysis is based on first-hand fieldwork data (2009–2020). I first analyze the historical and political circumstances that gave rise to language ideology with respect to Kakabe, and then I investigate how it coincides with language practice or diverges from it. Findings/conclusions: Fouta-Djallon multilingualism has evolved in the context of a highly stratified state based on institutionalized slavery. The hybrid nature of this language ecology is closely tied with the on-going process of emancipation. On the one hand, Kakabe, the descendants of slaves, strive to assimilate, politically and religiously, with the more prestigious social group. On the other hand, since this assimilation cannot be complete, a multicultural identity is being created which involves the use of multiple languages. This is expressed in a semi-receptive mode of language production, as opposed to receptive multilingualism, typical of many small-scale multilingual ecologies as well in the fact that code-switching within one sentence is avoided, the same way as in small-scale multilingualism, yet, in stark contrast to the latter, borrowings are very common in Kakabe. Originality/implications: This case represents an interest for the study of multilingualism, since it combines characteristics of a strongly inegalitarian polyglossic type, on the one hand, with such features as reciprocity both in language transmission and language production, on the other hand. It also reveals the existence of a semi-receptive language production mode that has not been described before.