Terminological innovation has a considerable tradition in Swahili. This article takes recent terminology from the domain of information and communication technology (ICT) as a case study. It argues that, despite the principles and guidelines issued by Tanzanian language development authorities, the influence of English in developing new terms is evident. Furthermore, it shows that sometimes terms which are difficult to trace or which are related to different explanations of their origin, can achieve a broad acceptance by Swahili speakers, such as ‘tovuti’ ([web]site) or ‘tarakilishi’ (computer).
Analysing terminology issued by the Open Swahili Localization Project in Dar es Salaam, aspects of loan-based translation and different strategies of creating new terminology, such as the use of the connective -a and of (new types of) composita, are discussed. Also here, the question of acceptance by the actual speakers of the language is taken into account.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa.de:bsz:15-qucosa-91061 |
| Date | 15 August 2012 |
| Creators | Kramer, Raija |
| Contributors | Universität Mainz, Institut für Ethnologie und Afrikastudien, Universität Mainz, Institut für Ethnologie und Afrikastudien |
| Publisher | Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | deu |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | doc-type:article |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Swahili Forum 15 (2008). S. 95-113 |
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