Author(s): Sènami-Fifa Blandine Araba, Charles Dossou Ligan, Abossèdé Paulette Okpeicha

Abstract: This research work aims at describing the way with which « loan blends » and « Code mixing » are used as one of the strategies, among other ones, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o in Matigari (1987) and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in Americanah (2013) refer to so as to valorize and promote their mother tongues. Despite the huge linguistic diversity of the African continent, most of literary works are still written in foreign languages. Facing this issue, there is a good reason for which people can get worry on the threatening depreciation of indigenous African languages. To boost a better analysis of bilingualism effects in literary works under study, this research focuses on key notions and theories some linguists like Hoffmann and Holmes have worked on. Indeed, the study mainly focuses on loanblends and Code Mixing/Code switching. From the results obtained, it has been discovered that some African writers like Ngugi Wa Thiong’o and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie definitely use a variety of strategies – including loanblends and code mixing – to valorize their local language leading thus to the preservation of the cultural identity of the African continent.

Keywords: Loan blends, code mixing, African languages, strategies, valorization.

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.105.57