Swahili
Swahili is a language that is widely spoken in East Africa. It is spoken as a first language in areas along the east coast, i.e. from southern Somalia to the Mozambique-Tanzania border; the islands of Zanzibar, Pembe, Mafia, Lamu, and the Comores; and most of East Africa's urban areas.
Swahili is a Bantu language. Other Bantu languages include Zulu, which is spoken in South Africa; Kikuyu of Kenya; Kongo of Zaire; and Duala of Cameroon. Although Bantu languages are not mutually intelligible, they all derive from a common ancestral language and thereby share vocabulary, word processes, and sentence structure. For example, the word for 'a person' is: Mtu (Swahili), Umuntu (Zulu), Mundu (Kikuyu), Muntu (Kongo), Moto (Duala). Because Swahili is spoken over such a wide area that is both ethnically and linguistically diverse, many local variations have emerged.
Swahili has borrowed a great deal of its vocabulary from Arabic and other languages such as Portuguese, Indian (Persian and Hindi), German, and English. This is resultant of contact with Arab and Indian traders, missionaries, settlers, explorers, and colonialists. Borrowing is now common not only to Swahili, but to other languages, as well. In spite of this extensive borrowing, Swahili still remains a Bantu language in its basic structure and core vocabulary. This attests to the cultural flexibility of Swahili, as it consistently adapts to new situations and circumstances. Swahili's flexibility has contributed to its rise as not only the national/official language of several East African countries, but also to its international reputation.
Source: African Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania
Courses
- SWAH 0100 Elementary Swahili I
- SWAH 0200 Elementary Swahili II
- SWAH 0300 Intermediate Swahili I
- SWAH 0400 Intermediate Swahili II
- SWAH 1100 Advanced Swahili I
- SWAH 1200 Advanced Swahili II
View course descriptions.
Instructors
Elaine MshombaCourse Schedule
| Title | Instructors | Location | Time | Description | Cross listings | Fulfills | Registration notes | Syllabus | Syllabus URL | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFRC 2851-680 | Advanced Swahili II | Elaine Mshomba | TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM | The objectives are to continue to strengthen students' knowledge of speaking, listening, reading, and writing Swahili and to compare it with the language of the students; to continue learning about the cultures of East Africa and to continue making comparisons with the culture(s) of the students; to continue to consider the relationship between that knowledge and the knowledge of other disciplines; and using that knowledge, to continue to unite students with communities outside of class. Level 3 on the ILR (Interagency Language Roundtable) scale. | SWAH1200680, SWAH5400680 | Penn Lang Center Perm needed | 2025A | |||||
| AFRC 2851-680 | Advanced Swahili II | Elaine Mshomba | WILL 741 WILL 741 |
T 8:30 AM-9:59 AM R 12:00 PM-1:29 PM |
The objectives are to continue to strengthen students' knowledge of speaking, listening, reading, and writing Swahili and to compare it with the language of the students; to continue learning about the cultures of East Africa and to continue making comparisons with the culture(s) of the students; to continue to consider the relationship between that knowledge and the knowledge of other disciplines; and using that knowledge, to continue to unite students with communities outside of class. Level 3 on the ILR (Interagency Language Roundtable) scale. | SWAH1200680, SWAH5400680 | Penn Lang Center Perm needed | 2024A | ||||
| AFRC 2851-680 | Advanced Swahili II | Elaine Mshomba | The objectives are to continue to strengthen students' knowledge of speaking, listening, reading, and writing Swahili and to compare it with the language of the students; to continue learning about the cultures of East Africa and to continue making comparisons with the culture(s) of the students; to continue to consider the relationship between that knowledge and the knowledge of other disciplines; and using that knowledge, to continue to unite students with communities outside of class. Level 3 on the ILR (Interagency Language Roundtable) scale. | SWAH1200680, SWAH5400680 | Penn Lang Center Perm needed | 2023A |