ISBN:
0-416-10870-9 (paperback)
,
0-416-10850-4 (casebound)
,
978-0-416-10850-7
,
978-0-416-10870-5
Language:
English
Pages:
ix, 150 Seiten
,
Karte
Edition:
First published in 1969, reprinted
Series Statement:
Studies in African History 3
Keywords:
Ost-Afrika Tansania
;
Nationalsprache
;
Sprache, afrikanische
;
Sprachpolitik
;
Soziolinguistik
;
Anthropologie, linguistische
Abstract:
Swahili is the national language of Tanzania and the dominant African language of Eastern Africa. It is unique among African languages in its verse literature, which dates back to the eighteenth century and was written in the Arabic script.Until the early part of the last century, Swahili was essentially a language of the East African coast, and perhaps especially of the coastal towns. Its remarkable expansion, even into what is now Zambia and the Congo Republic, is linked with the expansion of trade, with missionary activities, with the establishment of colonial administrations and the development of education. During colonial time its role as a language of education fluctuated with changes in policy, and its status vis-à-vis English was often the subject of heated debate. With independence, however, came the recognition of Swahili as Tanzania's national language, and it is now the most important African language anywhere in that continent. (Umschlagtext)
Description / Table of Contents:
Preface -- Language and literature -- Early histoy -- The diffusion up-country -- THe colonial period -- "Standard" Swahili -- After independence -- Problems of a national language -- Notes -- Select bibliography on Swahili language -- Index
Note:
Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 141-145
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