Storytelling, language, and the earthquake swarm of May 2018: Insights into Shimaore and Kibushi from narrative analysis

The earthquake swarm that struck Mayotte in 2018 incited panic and various reactions among the local population. Because earthquakes are rare on the island, people were beside themselves, with many leaving their homes to wait out the night under the open air. This article analyzes 36 short narratives that recount events surrounding the crisis. Told in Shimaore and Kibushi, these stories describe what happened at night, particularly when people sought refuge in open spaces, fearing another earthquake might strike. The article focuses on the language used in the stories to discuss earthquakes and the earthquake swarm. Analyses reveal that the stories have a similar structure and language related to space, movement, affect and evaluation are parallel in the two languages. Some differences between the two languages are observed regarding terminology, such as the noun form for “earthquake.” Narratives reveal evaluative language that negatively portrays the events, and the language that stresses the collective experience on the island.