Swahili as a lingua Franca: a study in language development

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Periodical article

Title:	Swahili as a lingua Franca: a study in language development
Author:	Ekwelie, Sylvanus A.
Year:	1971
Periodical:	Genève-Afrique: acta africana
Volume:	10
Issue:	2
Pages:	86-99
Language:	English
Geographic term:	East Africa
Subjects:	Swahili language lingua francas
Abstract:	A very much discussed point of how far Swahili may be able to cover modern terms and thoughts, in order to be an efficient medium of communication. Taking the point of departure that Swahili, as every young or relatively young language is potentially capable of absorbing and transmitting any technological culture if a number of conditions are met, the author gives a survey of the efforts being made for modernizing Swahili. Several basic topics are analysed: intertranslation and other methods of building up a richer dictionary, popularization, graphization, and standardization. The function of mass media is discussed as being promoters of spreading Swahili in a systematic way, specially in Tanzania. Conclusions drawn show that solution of problems of standardization and popularization will depend on co-ordination by authorities charged with vocabulary building, and change of the mass media to fulfil their task in teaching people modern Swahili.