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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Sociolinguistic meaning of Bantu place names: the case of Ruhaya in north-western Tanzania
Author:Buberwa, Adventina
Year:2012
Periodical:Journal for Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (ISSN 2026-7215)
Volume:1
Issue:2
Pages:111-120
Language:English
Geographic term:Tanzania
Subjects:Haya language
place names
etymology
Abstract:The sociolinguistic meanings of place names in the Ruhaya language are investigated. The study is limited to the administrative and geographical area of Bukoba-Rural District in north-western Tanzania, specifically investigating the meanings of village names found in the area known by its pre-colonial chiefdom name of Kihanja, where the Ruhamba dialect of Ruhaya is spoken. The use of the concept of sociolinguistics means that it is assumed that place names in Ruhaya are not abstract objects, but can only accounted for by reference to the social life of their speakers. It appears that Ruhaya place names have meanings that tend to be derived from phenomena such as names of unique people, events, fauna, flora, crops, habitation information, natural terrain and activities carried out in the area to which the name is given. Also, place names in Ruhaya have meanings relating to parts of the human body such as hip, nape, tongue, breast and heart. Bibliogr., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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