Resources to Learn Swahili
Habari
The Origin of the Language
The Origin of the Language
Swahili, also known as Kiswahili, is a Bantu language and the first language of the Swahili people. Swahili serves as a national language of three nations: Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A significant fraction of Swahili vocabulary is derived from Arabic through contact with Arabic-speaking Muslim inhabitants of the Swahili Coast. Around 5 million people speak Swahili as a native language and a further 135 million people speak this as second language.
The name Swahili comes from the Arabic word (sawāḥil), the plural of (sāḥil - boundary, coast) and means "Coastal Dwellers". The prefix ki- is attached to nouns in the noun class that includes languages, so Kiswahili means "Coastal Language". Swahili is traditionally regarded as being the language of coastal areas of Tanzania and Kenya. It spreads as fishermen’s language to the various islands surrounding the Swahili Coast. Traders from these islands had extensive contact with the coastal peoples at least from the 2nd century A.D. and Swahili began to spread along with the Swahili Coast at least from the 6th century.
The name Swahili comes from the Arabic word (sawāḥil), the plural of (sāḥil - boundary, coast) and means "Coastal Dwellers". The prefix ki- is attached to nouns in the noun class that includes languages, so Kiswahili means "Coastal Language". Swahili is traditionally regarded as being the language of coastal areas of Tanzania and Kenya. It spreads as fishermen’s language to the various islands surrounding the Swahili Coast. Traders from these islands had extensive contact with the coastal peoples at least from the 2nd century A.D. and Swahili began to spread along with the Swahili Coast at least from the 6th century.
Standard Swahili has five vowel. Swahili only has diphthongs on the combination of semivowels and vowels. As I don’t have an Arabic keyboard, I can’t type those.
You will find the resources to learn the language
When you will try to find out some resources where you can learn this quickly you will face some problems. As Swahili is attached to a Niger-Congo area, finding learning method of African language is not so easy at all. But here I can give you some instructions where you can find some easiest ways to learn Swahili language.
Learning Lingala on Your Phone (Virtually)
Technology nowadays is an important part of learning throughout the world at all different levels. Lingala (Ngala) is a Bantu language spoken throughout the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a large part of the Republic of the Congo. You may learn this language through your phone. For Lingala Music, see Soukous. You can also use Lingala- English dictionary too. Here are some links of Lingala lessons-
Reading Books In Swahili
Learning through reading books is also a method which you can try. Once I read a book called Swahili: A Complete Course for Beginners. It has helped me a lot. Then you may also try to read the literature books written in Swahili with English when you can have a little knowledge with Swahili phrases. You may buy some online books to learn Swahili from https://www.amazon.com/Swahili-Complete-Course-Beginners-Spoken/dp/1400023467
Swahili TV Shows
Most of us watch TV shows for getting relaxed, but TV shows can also be a great way to improve your listening skills. You may also learn from watching dramas and cultural programs of those people who speak Swahili. These will surely help you find newer words and to catch their point of views. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCEB4FF2206EF5278
Listening Music in Swahili
Listening and singing a foreign language can help to learn easily. The more you will listen Swahili language, the more you will learn eventually. It will surely help you to learn Swahili easily. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Music+in+Swahili
Academic Study in Swahili
If someone wants to have academic study on Swahili, It’s impossible and it’s easy if you really care. If one wants to study Lingala, he surely can afford to do it.. Just have to have patience and try to learn carefully all the pros and cons.
Learning on Youtube
Truly saying learning a language is fun but when there is a mixture of videos and audios to learn the proper tone, it’s easier. It will be more helpful. So you may learn Swahili from professionals on Youtube.
These are some of the methods I had used to learn Swahili Language… Hope you can also learn this beautiful and enriched language through these steps.
Na Journey nzuri (A good journey)
Comments
Post a Comment