Nexus of environmental deterioration and language endangerment: the loss of Sukuma insects’ terms in Kwimba, Tanzania

Abstract

This study examined how environmental degradation affects the loss of Sukuma insect terminology in Kwimba, Tanzania. Using qualitative methods, interviews and focus groups and guided by systemic functional linguistics, it explored the language-environment relationship. Findings revealed a generational divide in environmental perception: elders described deforestation, species loss, and climate change, while younger people reported stability, unable to perceive such changes. Grasshopper terminology showed marked intergenerational differences, with elders possessing richer terms, reflecting erosion of traditional ecological knowledge and cultural-linguistic heritage. Grasshoppers serve as cultural keystone species shaping Sukuma identity, language, and social practices. The study highlights implications for conserving traditional ecological knowledge and mitigating language decline, recommending future research on knowledge retention mechanisms and similar patterns in other Sukuma traditions.