The co-operation among coactive Swahili terminological modernization agencies in Tanzania: ideal and reality

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Periodical article

Title:	The co-operation among coactive Swahili terminological modernization agencies in Tanzania: ideal and reality
Author:	Mwansoko, H.J.M.
Year:	1991
Periodical:	Journal of Asian and African Studies (Tokyo)
Issue:	42
Pages:	31-40
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Tanzania
Subjects:	technical terminology standardization Swahili language
Abstract:	The language agencies engaged in serious modernization of Swahili technical terminologies in Tanzania are the National Swahili Council, the country's leading Swahili language agency, the Institute of Kiswahili Research and the Department of Swahili, both of the University of Dar es Salaam, and the Ministry of Education's Institute of Curriculum Development. The author examines the operational relationships among these four agencies, in particular in the area of terminology coinage, standardization and dissemination. It appears that there is a considerable gulf between the expected, ideal cooperation and the actual day-to-day cooperation of the four agencies, largely as a result of negative attitudes towards the National Swahili Council arising from the 'unacademic and untechnical' nature of the Council's terminological modernization staff. The author suggests restructuring the Council's terminology-related staff in such a way that its composition reflects the technical nature of its work. Bibliogr., notes, ref.