Re-examining language shift cases in Malawi in the context of Fishman's GIDS

This paper explores language shift cases in three Malawian languages using Fishman's Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (GIDS) in order to gain some insight into the extent to which these languages should be regarded as threatened and therefore in need of reversal support. The paper shows that Chingoni, in its current state of attrition, is a GIDS 8 language. While not much can be done to revive it, there is need for folklorists and linguists to document the language and its culture before it completely disappears. With respect to Chilomwe, the paper places this language at GIDS 7. Without any serious intergenerational transmission taking place, Chilomwe needs a full array of reversal support if the language is to survive. Finally, the paper shows that in spite of some studies showing that Chiyao is undergoing some language shift, at GIDS 6 it is in fact the strongest of the three languages examined and current reversal efforts can only strengthen its position.