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| ====== East African Languages - Swahili ====== | ====== East African Languages - Swahili ====== | ||
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| ====== Introduction to Swahili ====== | ====== Introduction to Swahili ====== | ||
| - | * Arab visitors often used the word Swahili as they traveled to the coast. Its literal translation means “the coast”. It is a word that is now used to describe the people and their language. | + | * Arab visitors often used the word Swahili as they traveled to the coast. Its literal translation means “the coast.” It is a word that is now used to describe the people and their language. |
| * Swahili language is thought to be an old language, with its earliest authors writing about having used it as far back as the second century A.D. The oldest surviving documents written in Swahili date back to the early part of the 18th century. | * Swahili language is thought to be an old language, with its earliest authors writing about having used it as far back as the second century A.D. The oldest surviving documents written in Swahili date back to the early part of the 18th century. | ||
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| * Scholars believe that the Swahili language derived from the integration of African and Asiatic languages on the coast of east Africa. | * Scholars believe that the Swahili language derived from the integration of African and Asiatic languages on the coast of east Africa. | ||
| - | * Swahili language is from Bantu (African) origin. It is a compilation of borrowed words from Arabic and African languages. The words that were incorporated from Arabic and African languages were said to be used by Swahili people as they began to use the Koran. ((Retrieved from: <http://www.nlscorps.org/Languages/SW.aspx>)) | + | * Swahili language is from [[Bantu|Bantu]] (African) origin. It is a compilation of borrowed words from Arabic and African languages. The words that were incorporated from [[Arabic]] and African languages were said to be used by Swahili people as they began to use the Koran. ((Retrieved from: <http://www.nlscorps.org/Languages/SW.aspx>)) |
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| + | * This webpage examines Swahili language through a cultural perspective as it focuses on Language, demographics, cultural and ethnic framework, education, and implications for Speech Language Pathologists. | ||
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| (//Image from UCLA's Language Materials Project//)((Retrieved from: www.lmp.ucla.edu/images/Swahili.GIF)) | (//Image from UCLA's Language Materials Project//)((Retrieved from: www.lmp.ucla.edu/images/Swahili.GIF)) | ||
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| ====== Swahili (Kiswahili) Language ====== | ====== Swahili (Kiswahili) Language ====== | ||
| - | The Swahili language originates from the Coast of Eastern Africa and it stretches from Mogadishu in [[somalia:somali_bantu|Somalia]] to the north and to the mouth of river Lurio in Mozambique to the south. Present day Swahili is believed to have been derived from Kingozi a language that was thought to be spoken by the Washungwaya Bantus who were the ancestors of present day speakers of the different Swahili dialects. | + | The Swahili language originates from the Coast of Eastern Africa and it stretches from Mogadishu in [[somalia_somali_bantu|Somalia]] to the north and to the mouth of river Lurio in Mozambique to the south. Present day Swahili is believed to have been derived from Kingozi a language that was thought to be spoken by the Washungwaya Bantus who were the ancestors of present day speakers of the different Swahili dialects. |
| Swahili, which was once spoken only in the coastal regions, has since spread inland and is now spoken in many countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. Swahili is considered the lingua franca, or the common language used for communication with speakers of different mother tongues, in Eastern Africa and some parts of central or southern Africa. Swahili is the official and national language in [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]], and recently [[Uganda]]. | Swahili, which was once spoken only in the coastal regions, has since spread inland and is now spoken in many countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. Swahili is considered the lingua franca, or the common language used for communication with speakers of different mother tongues, in Eastern Africa and some parts of central or southern Africa. Swahili is the official and national language in [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]], and recently [[Uganda]]. | ||
| The African Union uses Swahili as one of its official languages in which business is conducted. Additionally, it is considered to be the language of the East African community with both broadcast and print media frequently using Swahili. | The African Union uses Swahili as one of its official languages in which business is conducted. Additionally, it is considered to be the language of the East African community with both broadcast and print media frequently using Swahili. | ||
| - | Swahili is currently spoken in [[Kenya]], [[Tanzania]], Southern Coast of [[somalia: somali_bantu|Somalia]], Northern Coast of Mozambique and the various islands dotting the Indian Ocean. It is also spoken in [[Uganda]], southern parts of [[Ethiopia]], Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), northern parts of Zambia, Malawi, the Comoros islands and north western Coast of Madagascar.((Choge, S., & Phil, M. (2009). Understanding kiswahili vowels. The Journal of Pan African Studies, 2(8), 62-77)) | + | Swahili is currently spoken in [[Kenya]], [[Tanzania]], Southern Coast of [[somalia_somali_bantu|Somalia]], Northern Coast of Mozambique and the various islands dotting the Indian Ocean. It is also spoken in [[Uganda]], southern parts of [[Ethiopia]], Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), northern parts of Zambia, Malawi, the Comoros islands and the northwestern Coast of Madagascar.((Choge, S., & Phil, M. (2009). Understanding kiswahili vowels. The Journal of Pan African Studies, 2(8), 62-77)) |
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| ====== Demographics ====== | ====== Demographics ====== | ||
| {{ swahili-usmap2.png|}} | {{ swahili-usmap2.png|}} | ||
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| ==== Swahili Population in the United States ==== | ==== Swahili Population in the United States ==== | ||
| - | * In the United States 1 in every 7,151 people age five and older speaks Swahili at home. Native Swahili speakers reside in 48 of the 50 United States. The exceptions being Montana and North Dakota. | + | * In the United States 1 in every 7,151 people age five and older speaks Swahili at home. Native Swahili speakers reside in 48 of the 50 United States, the exceptions being Montana and North Dakota. |
| * Swahili is spoken by approximately by 36,690 people in the United States. | * Swahili is spoken by approximately by 36,690 people in the United States. | ||
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| * Swahili is spoken in 240 counties. | * Swahili is spoken in 240 counties. | ||
| - | * The largest populations of Swahili speaking people reside in Los Angeles County in California, Harris County in Houston Texas, and Montgomery County in Maryland. | + | * The largest populations of Swahili-speaking people in the US reside in Los Angeles County, California, Harris County in Houston Texas, and Montgomery County in Maryland. |
| * Swahili is among the 10 most common languages in 18 counties. | * Swahili is among the 10 most common languages in 18 counties. | ||
| - | * It is not a dominant language in any of the 50 United States. | + | * Swahili is not a dominant language in any of the 50 United States. |
| * Swahili is ranked 61 amongst the 321 languages spoken in the United States.((Retrieved from: <http://www.usefoundation.org/userdata/file/Research/Languages/swahili.pdf>)) | * Swahili is ranked 61 amongst the 321 languages spoken in the United States.((Retrieved from: <http://www.usefoundation.org/userdata/file/Research/Languages/swahili.pdf>)) | ||
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| * **Holidays:** Since the majority of Swahili people are Muslim, they tend to celebrate religious holidays like Ramadan, which is a month long celebration. During the month of Ramadan, the Swahili along with all other Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. The other holiday celebrated by many Muslims and Swahilis is the prophet Muhammad’s birthday.((Retrieved from: <http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/Swahili.html>)) | * **Holidays:** Since the majority of Swahili people are Muslim, they tend to celebrate religious holidays like Ramadan, which is a month long celebration. During the month of Ramadan, the Swahili along with all other Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. The other holiday celebrated by many Muslims and Swahilis is the prophet Muhammad’s birthday.((Retrieved from: <http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/Swahili.html>)) | ||
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| ====== Swahili Education ====== | ====== Swahili Education ====== | ||
| - | **[[Kenya]]:** As of 2003 Kenya has adopted a free primary education system. The 8 years of primary education in mandated by the government. Classes are taught in English with Swahili being a compulsory subject. Children begin school at the age of six and graduate at the age of 13. Secondary school is 4 years in length and is also taught in English with Swahili being compulsory. The University is also 4 years in length with English being the primary language used for instruction, at the university level Swahili is not compulsory. A secondary or University education can be only be obtained through a selection process that looks at the performance in the national examinations for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). ((Retrieved from: <http://www.sacmeq.org/education-kenya.htm>)) | + | **[[Kenya]]:** As of 2003 Kenya has adopted a free primary education system. The 8 years of primary education is mandated by the government. Classes are taught in English with Swahili being a compulsory subject. Children begin school at the age of six and graduate at the age of 13. Secondary school is 4 years in length and is also taught in English with Swahili being compulsory. The University is also 4 years in length with English being the primary language used for instruction. At the university level Swahili is not compulsory. A secondary or university education can be only be obtained through a selection process that looks at the performance in the national examinations for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). ((Retrieved from: <http://www.sacmeq.org/education-kenya.htm>)) |
| - | **[[Tanzania]]:** Education in Tanzania is a three level system consisting of basic, secondary and tertiary. At the basic level there are 2 years of pre-primary education and 7 years of primary education. The secondary level consists of 4 years of Junior Secondary, and 2 years of Senior Secondary. Finally the Tertiary level consists of 3 or more years. Tanzania has a bilingual policy where children are required to learn both Swahili and English. English is required so that the country can remain linked with the rest of the world through technology, commerce and administration. Learning Swahili allows the students to keep in touch with their cultural values and heritage. Swahili is how instruction is given at the primary education level with English being taught as a compulsory subject. At the secondary or post primary level classes are taught in English with Swahili being a compulsory subject.((Retrieved from: <http://www.tanzania.go.tz/educationf.html>)) | + | **[[Tanzania]]:** Education in Tanzania is a three level system consisting of basic, secondary and tertiary. At the basic level there are 2 years of pre-primary education and 7 years of primary education. The secondary level consists of 4 years of Junior Secondary, and 2 years of Senior Secondary. Finally the Tertiary level consists of 3 or more years. Tanzania has a bilingual policy where children are required to learn both Swahili and English. English is required so that the country can remain linked with the rest of the world through technology, commerce, and administration. Learning Swahili allows the students to keep in touch with their cultural values and heritage. Swahili is how instruction is given at the primary education level with English being taught as a compulsory subject. At the secondary or post primary level classes are taught in English with Swahili being a compulsory subject.((Retrieved from: <http://www.tanzania.go.tz/educationf.html>)) |
| - | **[[somalia:somali_bantu|Somalia:]]** As of 1972 education has been under the jurisdiction of the central government. In 1975 education was made mandatory for 8 years at the primary level. Education does not accommodate for the nomadic population. Their secondary education system is an additional four years but is not mandatory. The country launched a literacy campaign in the mid 70’s, but the lasting effects of this campaign remain questionable. Starting in the mid 80’s literacy remained at a minimum with approximately 18 percent of adult men and 6 percent adult women being literate. Around 1990, Unesco, estimated the literacy rate to be around 24.1 percent. A government allocation of 2 percent was utilized for education between the years of 1986 and 1993. Somalia national university in Mogadishu offers technical, veterinary, schools of public health, industry, seamanship and fishing, and Islamic disciplines as of 1986. Anarchy broke out in 1992, and Somalia’s economy and educational systems collapsed. In 1991, there were very few schools in operation, and the university closed. Schools did not reopen until 1996. ((Retrieved from: <http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Somalia-EDUCATION.html>)) | + | **[[somalia_somali_bantu|Somalia:]]** As of 1972, education has been under the jurisdiction of the central government. In 1975 education was made mandatory for 8 years at the primary level. Education does not accommodate for the nomadic population. Their secondary education system is an additional four years but is not mandatory. The country launched a literacy campaign in the mid '70s, but the lasting effects of this campaign remain questionable. Starting in the mid '80s, literacy remained at a minimum with approximately 18 percent of adult men and 6 percent adult women being literate. Around 1990, UNESCO estimated the literacy rate to be around 24.1 percent. A government allocation of 2 percent was utilized for education between the years of 1986 and 1993. Somalia National University in Mogadishu offers technical, veterinary, schools of public health, industry, seamanship and fishing, and Islamic disciplines as of 1986. Anarchy broke out in 1992, and Somalia’s economy and educational systems collapsed. In 1991, there were very few schools in operation, and the university closed. Schools did not reopen until 1996. ((Retrieved from: <http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Somalia-EDUCATION.html>)) |
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| ====== Swahili Language Specifics====== | ====== Swahili Language Specifics====== | ||
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| ===== Linguistic Affiliation ===== | ===== Linguistic Affiliation ===== | ||
| - | Swahili is a Bantu language of the Sabaki subgroup of Northeastern Coast Bantu languages. It is most immediately related to the Kenyan Bantu languages of Ilwana, Pokomo, and Mijikenda (Digo, Giryama, Duruma, etc.), which are spoken in the Kenya coastal hinterland, and to Comorian (Ngazija, Nzuani, Mwali, and Maore) of the Comoro Islands. Other members of the group include Chimwiini of Barawa, Somalia, and Mwani of the Kerimba Islands and northern coastal Mozambique. | + | Swahili is a [[Bantu]] language of the Sabaki subgroup of Northeastern Coast Bantu languages. It is most immediately related to the Kenyan Bantu languages of Ilwana, Pokomo, and Mijikenda (Digo, Giryama, Duruma, etc.), which are spoken in the Kenya coastal hinterland, and to Comorian (Ngazija, Nzuani, Mwali, and Maore) of the Comoro Islands. Other members of the group include Chimwiini of Barawa, Somalia, and Mwani of the Kerimba Islands and northern coastal Mozambique. |
| Bantu languages are spoken as a first language in sub Saharan Africa by nearly a third of the continent's total population. Many second language speakers of Swahili are native speakers of another Bantu language, or of a Nilotic or Cushitic language. | Bantu languages are spoken as a first language in sub Saharan Africa by nearly a third of the continent's total population. Many second language speakers of Swahili are native speakers of another Bantu language, or of a Nilotic or Cushitic language. | ||
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| ===== Linguistic Challenges ===== | ===== Linguistic Challenges ===== | ||
| - | Most languages spoken in East Africa are Bantu languages. Swahili (a mixture of Bantu, Arabic, and other languages) acts as the official language in both Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda has more than 40 languages besides English and Swahili, the majority of which belong to the Bantu family. | + | Most languages spoken in East Africa are [[Bantu]] languages. Swahili (a mixture of Bantu, [[Arabic]], and other languages) acts as the official language in both [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]]. [[Uganda]] has more than 40 languages besides English and Swahili, the majority of which belong to the [[Bantu]] family. |
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| * **Kichagga:** spoken by the Chagga people who are living around the Kilimanjaromountain in northern Tanzania.((Retrieved from: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language>)) | * **Kichagga:** spoken by the Chagga people who are living around the Kilimanjaromountain in northern Tanzania.((Retrieved from: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language>)) | ||
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| The phonology of Swahili is characterized by a simple vowel inventory and consonant inventory. Somewhat unusual sounds are the implosives, sounds that are made by drawing air into the lungs rather than expressing it. Unlike other Bantu languages, it is not a tone language; stress is typically on the penultimate syllable. | The phonology of Swahili is characterized by a simple vowel inventory and consonant inventory. Somewhat unusual sounds are the implosives, sounds that are made by drawing air into the lungs rather than expressing it. Unlike other Bantu languages, it is not a tone language; stress is typically on the penultimate syllable. | ||
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| + | "Swahili is unusual among sub-Saharan languages in having lost the feature of lexical tone (with the exception of the Mijikenda dialect group that includes the numerically important Mvita dialect, the dialect of Kenya's second city, the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa)." ((Retrieved from: <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Swahili_language>)) | ||
| - | ==== Sounds ==== | ||
| - | "Swahili is unusual among sub-Saharan languages in having lost the feature of lexical tone (with the exception of the Mijikenda dialect group that includes the numerically important Mvita dialect, the dialect of Kenya's second city, the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa)." ((Retrieved from: <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Swahili_language>)) | ||
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| Swahili has no diphthongs; in vowel combinations, each vowel is pronounced separately. Therefore the Swahili word for "leopard", chui, is pronounced /tʃu.i/, with hiatus.((Retrieved from: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language>)) | Swahili has no diphthongs; in vowel combinations, each vowel is pronounced separately. Therefore the Swahili word for "leopard", chui, is pronounced /tʃu.i/, with hiatus.((Retrieved from: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language>)) | ||
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| Note the following: | Note the following: | ||
| * p, t, k – These are similar to English voiceless stops, but they can be aspirated or unaspirated. | * p, t, k – These are similar to English voiceless stops, but they can be aspirated or unaspirated. | ||
| - | * b, d, g – As English voiced stops, but they are imploded, that is, in Swahili pronunciation the air is sucked into the mouth as they are released.((Retrived from:<http://www.swahiliuniversity.com/freeforall/consonants.html>)) | + | * b, d, g – As English voiced stops, but they are imploded, that is, in Swahili pronunciation, the release of the closure is delayed after voicing starts.((Retrived from:<http://www.swahiliuniversity.com/freeforall/consonants.html>)) |
| - | * consonants in Swahili are very similar to English, making them easy to learn. However, there are consonants that have only one pronunciation, where as in English there may be two pronunciations. For example f - will always make the sound /f/ as in "funny" and never the sound /v/ as in "of". | + | * consonants in Swahili are very similar to English, making them easy for an English speaker to learn. ((Retrieved from: <http://mwanasimba.online.fr/E_Chap01.htm> Chapter 1)) |
| - | * g - will always make a hard sound as in the word give and would never be a soft sound as in "George". | + | |
| - | * s - is always a voiced continuant as in "Sam" and will never make the voiced /z/ as in "hose".((Retrieved from: <http://mwanasimba.online.fr/E_Chap01.htm> Chapter 1)) | + | |
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| ==== Vocabulary ==== | ==== Vocabulary ==== | ||
| - | The typical Bantu structure of the language plus its extensive stock of vocabulary that is Bantu in origin, demonstrate that although Swahili has borrowed a large number of Arabic words, it distinctly remains an African language. In the modern era, it has borrowed extensively from English. There is also a loan set from Portuguese which dates from the Portuguese period in the 16th and 17th centuries." ((Excerpted from: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language>)) | + | The typical [[Bantu]] structure of the language plus its extensive stock of vocabulary that is [[Bantu]] in origin, demonstrate that although Swahili has borrowed a large number of Arabic words, it distinctly remains an African language. In the modern era, it has borrowed extensively from English. There is also a loan set from Portuguese which dates from the Portuguese period in the 16th and 17th centuries." ((Excerpted from: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language>)) |
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| * When visiting anyone at their home, it is correct to shout in front of the door "hodi" which means "anybody home?", to which the person in the home would answer "karibu" which means "you're welcome" the person at the door would answer "asante" which means "thank you".((Retrieved from <http://mwanasimba.online.fr/E_TABLE.htm> Chapter 2)) | * When visiting anyone at their home, it is correct to shout in front of the door "hodi" which means "anybody home?", to which the person in the home would answer "karibu" which means "you're welcome" the person at the door would answer "asante" which means "thank you".((Retrieved from <http://mwanasimba.online.fr/E_TABLE.htm> Chapter 2)) | ||
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| * Africans are finding traditional roles changing as men are more often doing domestic work while more women are going to work. | * Africans are finding traditional roles changing as men are more often doing domestic work while more women are going to work. | ||
| - | * See http://cnnc.uncg.edu/pdfs/africantips.pdf for more tips when working with individuals from African decent.((Retrieved from: <http://cnnc.uncg.edu/pdfs/africantips.pdf>)) | + | * As an Speech Language Pathologist working with individuals who share the Swahili culture, one should be aware of specfic cultural and linguistic difference. |
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| + | * The Swahili language contains no diphthongs. | ||
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| + | * Each consonant and vowel is pronounced. | ||
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| + | * In the Swahili language, compound words are formed by combining prefixes and suffixes to roots and stems, creating a new word with a different meaning conveyed. | ||
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| + | * When assessing and creating intervention plans it is important to understand these differences across the languages. | ||
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| + | * See http://cnnc.uncg.edu/pdfs/africantips.pdf for more tips when working with individuals from African descent.((Retrieved from: <http://cnnc.uncg.edu/pdfs/africantips.pdf>)) | ||
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| ===== Student Contributers ===== | ===== Student Contributers ===== | ||
| Christianne Osborn/Karrie Petersen Winter 2010. | Christianne Osborn/Karrie Petersen Winter 2010. | ||
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| - Swahili Language Learning Games <http://www.digitaldialects.com/Swahili.htm> | - Swahili Language Learning Games <http://www.digitaldialects.com/Swahili.htm> | ||
| - Swahili Center: Gives information on history, links to videos, and radio broadcasts in Swahili <http://www.swahili-centre.com/> | - Swahili Center: Gives information on history, links to videos, and radio broadcasts in Swahili <http://www.swahili-centre.com/> | ||
| + | - [[Community Resources for Culturally and Lingually Diverse Clients|Community Resources for Culturally and Lingually Diverse Clients ]] | ||
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| + | ~~DISCUSSION:off~~ | ||
| - | ~~DISCUSSION:on~~ | ||