Department of Kiswahili and Other African Languages
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Item Hadithi fupi_utanzu uliopuuzwa(1997) Mohochi, Ernest SangaiItem The role of creative arts in the fight against COVID-19 in Kenya(East African Scholars Publisher, Kenya, 2021-02-01) Mohochi, Ernest Sangai; Mwita, James MarwaInitial response to the outbreak and fast spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease was very slow in most countries. Rightly, most efforts at understanding it turned to and concentrated on the medical field, and within a very short time, its economic impact gained a central place in ensuing discussions on the pandemic. Little attention was given to non-health related aspects like the social and psychological implications, the role of religious and other traditional believe systems in understanding and combating Covid-19. Even less thought was given to contribution of the latter factors and others in efforts at fighting its wide spread and measure at containing it. This paper takes the position that fighting the Covid-19 disease needs to be multifaceted in order to present a holistic affront on the dangers it possesses. The paper argues that creative artists have a key role to play in this fight and uses examples from Kenya to indicate that role. It discusses works of artists from different genres of literature, and brings their contribution to the fore. Aspects like the presentation of the pandemic, messages contained, and language used in weaving their art are looked at and their role presented. It concludes that creative artists‘ role in society clearly goes beyond entertainment and calls for them to be included in various initiatives, spanning all sectors including sustainable development efforts and health related campaignsItem Multilingualism and language attitudes: students perceptions towards kiswahili in Mtwara region of Tanzani(Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2013) Wamalwa, Eric W.; Adika, Stanley K.; Kevogo, Alex U.; Mtwara, Stella MarisThe role of language attitudes on language choice, development and policy in multilingual societies cannot be over emphasized (Adegbija, 1994; Batibo, 2005). Monolingual speakers have only one attitude towards their language because they have no other languages to compare it with. However, where speakers are bilingual or multilingual; there is a tendency to develop different attitudes to each of the languages used. These attitudes, whether positive or negative, will normally depend on the degree of symbolic or socio-economic value manifested by each language. Tanzania, a multilingual country with over 128 languages and with a bilingual language policy in education is therefore a fertile ground for studies on language attitudes. In recent years, there have been concerted efforts by various stake holders to propagate growth and development of English in Tanzania. English has been lauded as the essential language which links Tanzania to the rest of the world through technology, commerce and administration. Against this backdrop, this study sought to investigate students’ attitudes towards Kiswahili so as to determine whether the shift to English had impacted students’ attitude formation towards Kiswahili. This survey comprised of 340 students sampled from six selected schools of Mtwara Urban and Mtwara Rural districts. Results show that most Tanzanian students have favourable attitudes towards Kiswahili and the language’s status among secondary school students has not diminished. Kiswahili remains the most preferred language of use in all major domains. This study proposes that the place and role of Kiswahili be further enhanced in the country by exploring its possible use as a medium of instruction at secondary school level. Further, the study proposes that local vernaculars, which face extinction due to language shift that has taken place, need drastic measures in order to preserve themItem Retrieval of aerosol optical depth over ecologically stressed east African land surfaces from top of atmosphere radiance utilizing the aerosol free vegetation index(Dept. of Geography, Bahir Dar University, 2005) Makokha, John W.; Angeyo, JW.Traditional satellite based AOD retrieval techniques with a coarse resolution such as collection 5 hardly provides a high spatial detail suitable for accurate AOD retrieval particularly over the ecologically stressed sites of East Africa. Furthermore, AOD retrievals from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS-collection 5) require a linear mixing model that utilizes the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to calculate surface reflectance. Since NDVI is affected by the presence of aerosols in the atmosphere, an empirical linear relationship between short wave infrared (SWIR) and visible reflectance were estimated in order to calculate a modified aerosol free vegetation index (AFRI). Based on AFRI and the minimum reflectance technique (MRT), an improved linear mixing model was developed. Calculated Vis/SWIR ratio diverges from the one used in the hypothetical model for AOD retrieval. Likewise, the regression coefficients between retrieved AOD for the developed algorithm and AERONET were higher as compared to that of MODIS collection 5 and AERONET. These emphasize the need of using AFRI plus accurate selection of surface characteristics and aerosol type for accurate AOD retrieval over East Africa that is addressed by the developed algorithm. At low AERONET AOD values, the two algorithms i.e. MODIS and developed agree but as the AERONET AOD value increases, a discrepancy is noted between the two as a result of usingNDVI and AFRIin the MODIS and developed algorithms respectively.Item Characterization of Kenyan ceramics for production of medium duty alumina firebrick incinerator linings(2018) Makokha, John W.; Kariuki, DK.; Mwitari, PG.The aim of this study was to evaluate locally available ceramic raw materials for the manufacture of Medium Duty Alumina Refractory Firebrick for incinerator lining.The clays were collected from two sites, Eburru in Nakuru County and Mukurwe-ini in Nyeri County in Kenya. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and X-Ray Diffraction analytical methods were used to determine the chemical composition of the respective clays before and after firing at 1000OC for two hours.Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer results revealed that Eburru Kaolin contained the highest amount of silica at72.64% SiO2but had the lowest of all other oxides. All the three raw materials were found to increase their oxide percentages after firing due to the loss in moisture and organic matter and reflected on their aluminasilica ratio. The X-Ray Diffraction results showed that the refractory formulated using the clays at a ratio of 2:2:1 Eburru Kaolin : Eburru Fireclay: Mukuruweini Ballclay attained good structural properties after firing at 1000OC for two hours and was comparable to commercial products in the market in addition to meeting the standards of a Medium Duty Refractory Firebrick.This is suitable for manufacture of incinerator linings.Item Stakeholders' dilemma and academic leadership on the different computing disciplines(2018-09-30) Wabwoba, Franklin; Nambiro, Alice WechuliThere is significant overlap between the uniqueness of the disciplines that has complicated trainers, learners and business community’s choice between the different disciplines. As computing has rapidly evolved its different disciplines has equally expanded in the academic community. The distinction between disciplines by the trainers is purposed to provide unique skills to serve unique needs of employers and society needs. For the business community to receive the best from the products of the programs therefore, it needs to understand what each of the different types of programs provides to meet their needs. This paper presents the results of a survey to determine if stakeholders were able to differentiate between computing disciplines and the level of academic leadership available. The findings of this paper make it clearer the distinct uniqueness of the different computing disciplines. The study found out the computing disciplines are each unique to themselves although there exists an overlap over the content covered. The study established that the stakeholders are not very clear of the difference between the computing disciplines. It also established that some universities have while others do not have academic leadership in the computing disciplines. When the practitioners are very clear on the differences between the different computing disciplines they are most likely to choose the correct employee, training as well as provide the correct training of the relevant discipline. The implication of the findings being that most likely organizations may not be receiving to best returns from the computing human resource employed as a result of hiring those not best suited for their tasks. Based on the findings of this research, further research can be undertaken on the various curriculum offered by universities to ascertain whether the unique computing disciplines are apparent in them.Item Language endangerment and language maintenance: can endangered indigenous languages of Kenya be electronically preserved?(IJHSS, 2013) Wamalwa, Eric W.; Stephen, OluochUnited Nations Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) contend that languages are the centre piece of the cultural diversity of the world yet they are also a vulnerable part of the world’s cultural heritage. According to UNESCO there are about 6,000 languages spoken in the world. Unfortunately, currently there are only eight languages of wider communication in the whole world. In spite of the importance of language as a component of cultural diversity, over 417 languages all over the world are endangered. In Kenya, over eight languages are endangered among them: Terik, El Molo, Ogiek, Omotik, Bong’om, Sogoo, Suba and Yaaku. Some of these languages have already been classified as being extinct by UNESCO. This paper addresses the need to preserve and maintain endangered indigenous languages. The paper has highlighted the current state of language endangerment in Kenya. The following observations are made: most African languages have not been phonemically coded. Given the length of time that is taken for a language to be phonemically coded, many languages whose vitality is critically endangered need an urgent means for their preservation. The paper recommends for an electronic method to be considered for preservation of the endangered languages.Item Towards the utilization of instructional media for effective teaching and learning of english in Kenya(2014) Wamalwa, Erastus Juma; Wamalwa, Eric W.Although English language is a compulsory subject in the Kenyan school curriculum, its teaching faces enhancement challenges. English language has been allotted more time for effective teaching and learning, this is however, not reflected in students’ performance results in many public secondary schools in Kenya. In assessing the cause of this poor performance, teachers are said to have absconded their duties. Most teachers in public schools are said to absent themselves from school, while those who attend classes do not carry out their responsibilities when teaching. Moreover, since the introduction of free primary education in 2002, the number of pupils joining schools increased tremendously. This has seen an increased number of primary level graduates transit to secondary schools whereas the number of teachers remained the same. The huge numbers of students in classes has posed a great challenge to effective teaching and instruction and to the use of teaching resources available. In many instances, teachers have reverted to using only the traditional methods of teaching and instruction. Thus, this paper assesses the place and role of instructional media in enhancing teaching and learning of English language subject in Kenya. The paper urges for a renewed emphasis towards the use of Instructional Media by teachers and stakeholders. The paper proposes for a mandatory use of instructional media while teaching to enhance learning English language subject in Kenya.Item Ambiguity in translation of metaphors: A case of Dholuo and Kiswahili(African Journal of Education, Science and Technology, 2014) Oluoch, Stephen J.; Ipara, Isaac O.; Kobia, J. M.This study investigates ambiguity in the translation of Christian religious metaphors from Dholuo into Kiswahili through a pragmatic approach. Data is drawn from the sermons delivered in Dholuo and translated into Kiswahili. Sampled texts are analyzed and classified in a category referred to as ambiguity. The findings show various causes of ambiguity, mainly, socio-cultural differences and wrong inferences. This can be generalized to apply to translation problems associated with similar contexts. The article gives insight and suggestions in the application of pragmatic theories of communication in translation.Item Evaluation of contextual teaching of Kiswahili proverbs in secondary schools in Kenya (Tathmini ya ufundishaji wa methali za Kiswahili kwa kutumia mbinu ya kimuktadha katika shule za upili nchini Kenya)(Journal of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, 2016) Wamubi, Oduori T.; Inyani, Simala; Ipara, Isaac O.The purpose of this research was to evaluate the contextual teaching of Kiswahili proverbs in secondary schools in Kenya. Despite the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (K.I.C.D) recommending in the revised syllabus that Kiswahili teachers place teaching content in real life context and environment (K.I.E. 2002), many teachers displayed inadequate knowledge on its implementation. The research objectives were: to find out whether teachers of Kiswahili teach Kiswahili proverbs contextually, to determine whether teachers have been prepared adequately to teach contextually. The research focused on Gem Sub-county, Siaya County in Kenya. The study sample comprised 14 teachers from 14 secondary schools out of 46 secondary schools in this Subcounty at the time of research. This was a descriptive research. Interview, questionnaire, observation and literature review methods were used in collecting data. The findings of the study revealed that though teachers used the CTL approach in teaching Kiswahili proverbs, they did not understand its principles hence did not implement it properly. The study therefore recommends that: teacher trainers consider imparting fully the principles of the CTL to trainees in order to enable them to implement it as expected; the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders organize many seminars and workshops, which should focus on this approach; prepare teaching and learning aids and publish more and adequate reference materials in this area.Item Evaluation of contextual teaching of Kiswahili proverbs in secondary schools in Kenya(Journal of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, 2015) Wamubi, Oduori T.; Inyani, Simala, K.; Mshiriki; Ipara, Isaac O.The purpose of this research was to evaluate the contextual teaching of Kiswahili proverbs in secondary schools in Kenya. Despite the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (K.I.C.D) recommending in the revised syllabus that Kiswahili teachers place teaching content in real life context and environment (K.I.E. 2002), many teachers displayed inadequate knowledge on its implementation. This came to the researcher’s attention through complaints registered by many Kiswahili teachers in workshops and seminars organized by the K.I.E. to sensitize teachers on how to implement the revised K.I.E. (2002) syllabus. The research objectives were: to find out whether teachers of Kiswahili teach Kiswahili proverbs contextually, to determine whether teachers have been prepared adequately to teach contextually. The research focused on Gem Sub-county, Siaya County in Kenya. The study sample comprised 14 teachers from 14 secondary schools out of 46 secondary schools in this Sub-county at the time of research. The research was guided by Contextual Teaching and Learning Theory founded by John Dewey as expounded by Vienna (2012). Contextual Teaching and Learning is a concept of teaching and learning that helps teachers relate subject matter content to real world situations (Berns and Erickson 2001). It motivates students to make connections between knowledge and its applications to their lives as family members, citizens, and workers and engage in the hard work that learning requires. This was a descriptive research. Interview, questionnaire, observation and literature review methods were used in collecting data. The data was presented in form of descriptions, tables, graphs, charts and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that though teachers used the CTL approach in teaching Kiswahili proverbs, they did not understand its principles hence did not implement it properly. Their training in the CTL approach was not exhaustive and the Kiswahili seminars and workshops organized in the field did not focus on it. Most teachers preferred the few available materials to creating their own relating these proverbs to learners’ real life situations and experiences. The study will serve as a reference point for the teacher trainers to put more input in training Kiswahili teachers to implement CTL effectively. The Ministry of Education will find the research resourceful in organizing for in service, workshops and seminars aimed at addressing the challenges experienced in the implementation of CTL thereby improving Kiswahili teachers’ performance. The study therefore recommends that: teacher trainers consider imparting fully the principles of the CTL to trainees in order to enable them to implement it as expected; the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders organize many seminars and workshops which should focus on this approach; prepare teaching and learning aids and publish more and adequate reference materials in this area, and advise KNEC to make a question on proverbs compulsory in national examinations in order to make teachers give its teaching the weight that it deserves. The findings of this study will be crucial in helping the educational stakeholders to find ways of improving the CTL approach as recommended in the K.I.E. (2002) syllabus.Item The role of Kiswahili in enhancing the potential of science and technology(The Journal of Pan African Studies, 2009-03) Ipara, Isaac O.The 21st Century is widely considered to be the epoch of science and technology. Many institutions of higher learning, including Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kenya, are developing academic programmes in Science and Technology in order to foster national development and ultimately improve the quality of life in society. For this reason, most institutions embrace a multidisciplinary approach where programmes in science, engineering, humanities and languages are integrated. The integrated approach in higher education has raised a number of pertinent questions: What is the role of higher institutions of science and technology? What is the place of language within the integrated approach? Can Kiswahili make any contribution in enhancing the potential of science and technology in development? This paper seeks to provide answers to the foregoing questions by illustrating the centrality of language as a medium of creating, transmitting and disseminating knowledge in science and technology, with specific reference to English and Kiswahili in Kenya. It is observed that the current age of science and technology is characterized by knowledge and information explosion; whoever accesses and utilizes these two commodities speedily has advantage over others. Efficiency and effectiveness of the medium that the knowledge and information are transmitted in thus becomes a key factor. Thus, the paper suggests concrete steps that can be taken by institutions of higher learning, planners, policy makers and scholars to ensure that the two languages, Kiswahili and English, facilitate the contribution of science and technology to development.Item Adult education learners’ recruitment: Challenges and prospects for re-engineered access to adult education in Kenya(Academic Journals, 2009-07) Mualuko, Ndiku J.; Muthamia, Hellen; Ipara, Isaac O.; Obaki, SamuelA research survey was designed to investigate the factor affecting participation of illiterate adults in adult education in Kenya and suggests ways to improve on the literacy levels. From the findings it was established that lack of conducive learning environments for adult learners, unavailability of enough instructional materials, negative attitude towards learning and shortage of professionally trained trainers for adult learners were some of the factors hindering many illiterate adults from participating in adult education programmes. It was recommended that the government and other agencies should take more responsibility in supporting adult education to make it more attractive to adult learners to attend the programmes by providing adequate funding and facilitating teacher training. The need for effective involvement of the learners in curriculum developed was emphasized.Item Performance differences and gender in Kiswahili creative writing: a case study of selected secondary schools in Nyamira County, Kenya(The Journal of Pan African Studies, 2013-09-04) Moochi, Charles N.; Barasa, Margaret; Ipara, Isaac O.This study investigated comparative differences in performance among boys and girls in Kiswahili creative writing in selected secondary schools in Kenya. The study was carried out in Nyamira County in Kenya located at a GPS of 0.5210° S, 34.9140° E. Simple random sampling, cluster and systematic sampling techniques were used to select the students. Ten secondary schools were used in the study and the sample comprised 180 students (on an equal distribution of boys and girls,). The research instrument was a Kiswahili creative writing task. The form 4 students were required to perform a task which involved writing an essay in Kiswahili. To reveal the sex differences in Kiswahili creative writing, the two-tailed t-test was used. The sex differences were considered significant if they were more than the critical value (t-critical: 2.576) at p<.01 based on 178 degrees of freedom. The study revealed that girls outperform boys in overall performance in Kiswahili creative writing, style and spelling conventions whereas the two sexes remained at par in content presentation, vocabulary use and use of grammatical elements in Kiswahili creative writing. In light of the above findings, the researcher generally recommends that students should be provided with remedial teaching to improve their performance in Kiswahili creative writing and a sex unit be established in the department of languages to monitor the progress of boys and girls among other many recommendations.Item Syntactic interference exhibited by secondary school learners of Kiswahili: a study of Sabaot first language speakers in Bungoma County, Kenya(International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS), 2018-01-01) Ndiema, Peter Chuma; Ipara, Isaac O.; Choge, SusanThe purpose of this study was to investigate the syntactic effect Kisabaot, as L1 has on the learning of Kiswahili, as L2 language among Sabaot speaking students in Mt. Elgon Sub- county, in Bungoma county secondary schools. The study population comprised of form four students. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 10 schools that took part in the research and simple random sampling was used to select 30% of the students per class in each of the 10 selected schools. The study adopted descriptive research design. Data was collected by use of essay writing and interview schedule. Descriptive data analysis was used to analyze the research findings. Analysis was guided by research questions. The study revealed that Sabaot syntax was exhibited in the learners written Kiswahili essays as a result of transfer of syntactic structures from Sabaot to Kiswahili. Learners transferred the Sabaot sentence structure to Kiswahili. The study proposes that teachers of Kiswahili be sensitized on the different L1structure of Sabaot speaking learners and make the students aware of the differences. The study also recommends the use of communicative approach as an instructional method among these learners, by intensive writing exercises in Kiswahili as an alternative to diminish L1 interference.