Development and spread of Swahili in eastern Africa (language study abroad course)
- Course Code:
- 155901245
- Status:
- Course Not Running 2012/2013
- Unit value:
- 1
- Year of study:
- Year 3 of 4
- Taught in:
- Full Year
The course surveys the origins of Swahili language, its growth, development and spread. Four major topics are used to approach the entire course:
- The first part examines its Bantu origin on the east African coast, variation (regional dialects), and its spread inland through the processes of trade, evangelization and colonial administration;
- the second topic focuses on the process of its standardization and the implications of the adopted orthography for Swahili writing in general (particularly text books);
- the third studies the implementation of Swahili as an official language and its use as symbol of national unity, identity, and culture in the countries of the region.
- The final strand will focus on contemporary Swahili usage.
Prerequisites
Completion of Year 2 at SOAS in the appropriate 4-year degree.Workload
Total of 10 weeks teaching with 3 hours lecture and 1 hour seminar per week.Method of assessment
One two-hour written examination (50%) and one oral examination (20%) taken at SOAS in May/June. One essay (2,000 words) to be submitted to the Year Abroad Institution on the last day of term 2 (30%).Suggested reading
- Chiraghdin, S and M. Mnyampala, 1977. Historia ya Kiswahili. Oxford University Press, Dar es Salaam
- Mbaabu, I., 1985. New Horizons in Kiswahili. Kenya Literature Bureau, Nairobi
- Middleton, J., 1992. The world of the Swahili. Yale University Press. New Haven
- Msokile, M. 1992., Historia na Matumizi ya Kiswahili. Educational Publishers and Distributors Ltd. Dar es Salaam
- Mazrui, Ali and Alamin. 1998. The Power of Babel: Language and Governance in the African experience. Oxford: James Currey
- Zawawi, S.M. 1979. Loan words and their effect on the classification of Swahili. Nominal Leiden
