Language Styles of Automotive Mechanics in Selected Garages in Dar es Salaam

Abstract

This study investigates the language styles used by automotive mechanics in Dar es Salaam to communicate mechanical information. It is guided by conceptual metaphor theory and translanguaging. Data was obtained from interviews with 20 participants, observation, and social media, specifically Jamii Forums and Facebook. The findings of the study show that automotive mechanics employ a variety of strategies to communicate messages to their clients when giving instructions, advising, explaining mechanical processes, and recommending spare parts to them. These strategies include using loan words, translanguaging, and assigning the names of body parts and human actions to car parts and mechanical processes respectively. Other strategies include the metaphorical use of body parts and personification. The study shows that automotive mechanics use these strategies not only because of their incompetence in using English or Swahili to communicate technical issues but also as a matter of style.

Keywords:

• translanguaging
• automotive mechanics
• personification
• body parts
• style, metaphor
• Swahili