@jaribu; my two children speak Kikuyu fluently. My wife and I took a strategic decision to speak to the kids in Kikuyu right from birth. In fact,by the time they go to nursery school,Kikuyu is the only language they can understand.

Believe me; if you commit yourself,it is very easy to influence the language that your child learns. The excuse that we are too busy does not carry any water...if you are a serious parent,then your children are the second most important people to you [the most important person being your spouse!!].

For that reason,you should make time for them every day. Tell them about you day,let them tell you about theirs etc and do it in your mother tongue.

Even if your maid is from another tribe,you can still influence the language that your children will speak.

BTW: Contrary to popular belief,children who speak in mother tongue at home do better in English language in school. This fact was proven by Prof. Okoth-Okombo of the UoN in the mid-1980's

Behind the gardens...Behind the wall...Under the tree (Including: Red...Dark Blue...Yellow)

mukiha has opened another tinderbox,says he...

'if you are a serious parent,then your children are the second most important people to you [the most important person being your spouse!!]'

aheeem...........do you guys agree or it should be the other way round?



bY aNy MeAns NecEsSaRy.....

@mukiha....if am luo and she is kamba....now which language do we speak with the kids??

If you have money that you expect to start using in five years,it now belongs in stocks.

@kingfisher;

You speak to the kid in luo; your wife speaks to the kid in kamba.

The kid grows up as a natural quadrilingual [speaking four languages...luo,kamba,kisahili,english]......what a special person you shall have created? I am now begining to envy you.

BTW: regardless of the languages spoken,the kid shall remain a true Luo.....assuming,of course,that bride price was paid as demanded by the Kamba people when you married their daughter.

Behind the gardens...Behind the wall...Under the tree (Including: Red...Dark Blue...Yellow)

@skodhe:

In our patriarchal society,a child takes the tribe of the father...unless the father did not complete the marital requirements of the tribe of the mother.

Thus the term 'mother tongue' is actually a misnomer. It should be 'father tongue'

Having said that; I know a Kikuyu lady who is married to a Luo man. She speaks perfect Luo and their children also speak perfect Luo.

That is the sort of commitment that we should place on marriage....many modern marriages are 'com-we-stays' with certificates from the AG!!!

Behind the gardens...Behind the wall...Under the tree (Including: Red...Dark Blue...Yellow)