LINGUISTICALLY MARGINALIZED CATEGORY OF CHILDREN: A CASE OF THREE COMPOUNDS IN LUSAKA CITY, ZAMBIA

The purpose of the study was to analyze how children between ages one day five years are linguistically marginalized in their own communities. employed a mixed paradigm and descriptive survey design that sampled three compounds Lusaka Misisi Compound, Matero Compound Kabulonga. Sample size comprised 60 respondents parents were interviewed collection objects use play with used collect data. Data obtained from by means interviews, observation schedules. Frequency, percentages, tables, graphs pie-charts quantitative qualitative data obtained. then analyzed manually some cases also, combination software MS Access Excel. findings revealed home-based language marginalization, can occur within same community any child social, economic education background adults linguistic practices contribute preventing this category have enough access speech ancestors. Therefore, understanding possible factors childrens first marginalization families guide (caretakers), educational researchers, linguists, community-based workers respective work during early childhood (1day-5years age).