Browsing by Author "Robinson, Nichodamus"

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A grammatical description of Nyakyusa phonology
(Journal of Linguistics and Language in Education, 2023) Robinson, Nichodamus
This paper offers a grammatical description of the phonology of Nyakyusa (M31), as an integral part of grammar. The literature review suggests that, in many Bantu languages, phonological description has received little attention since many scholarly works in Bantu linguistics primarily focus on morphology. Data for this study were collected in Kyela District, where many native speakers of Nyakyusa reside. Data collection techniques included reviewing available written texts, recording narrative stories, observing speakers’ conversations, and interviewing native speakers to assess the acceptability of certain constructions. The findings reveal that Nyakyusa has 14 pure consonants, 4 pre-nasalized stops, and seven vowels. Additionally, the study indicates that the contact between consonants and vowels gives rise to various phonological processes aimed at speech simplification. Such phonological processes are gliding, deletion, homorganic nasal assimilation, continuant stopping, consonant alternation, consonant mutation, voicing, vowel coalescence, and vowel harmony. In conclusion, the paper asserts that, despite some phonological aspects being common in Bantu languages according to the literature, the environments enabling them to occur to a large extent remain language-specific for Nyakyusa. Consequently, the paper recommends a systematic comparative phonological description across Bantu languages.
A systematic description of imbrication in Nyakyusa
(Journal of the Institute of Kiswahili Studies University of Dar es Salaam, 2023) Robinson, Nichodamus
This paper offers a systematic description of imbrication in Nyakyusa (M31). The review of the literature indicates that, in Nyakyusa, imbrication, a phonological change involving the opaque difference between the input and output forms in the -ile suffix, has not been systematically described. Hence, the paper offers this description by identifying triggering conditions and reconstructing the phonological processes shaping imbrication. Data for this paper were collected in Kyela district through a review of written texts, narrative stories, observation and interviews. The findings indicate that the syllable structure of the verb is the main determinant of imbrication in Nyakyusa. Quite obviously, the process of imbrication involves the deletion of the consonant in the -ile, followed by metathesis whereby the last consonant of the stem fills the empty slot caused by the deletion of [l]. Then, various adjustments that follow, i.e., vowel coalescence, vowel deletion, vowel rising, leftward spread of vowel, and vowel lengthening, are meant to resolve hiatus. The paper concludes that, based on the review of literature, although imbrication is common in some Bantu languages, we noted some conditions and phonological processes shaping imbrication to be language specific. In this view, this paper recommends a systematic comparative description of imbrication in other Bantu languages
English language teaching methods and their influence on pupils’ academic performance of the subject:
(Journal of Education and Development (JED)., 2023) Robinson, Nichodamus; Mpalanzi, Jacob Stephan
This article underscores the English language Teaching methods and their influence on the academic performance of the subject among public primary school pupils in Kilolo District in Tanzania. Using the descriptive research design, the study was conducted at Ukumbi Primary School, Kilolo, Iringa region to standards four and seven. The secondary data were collected using the documentary reviews from the Standard Four and Standard Seven national examinations results of English language subjects requested from the head teacher, whereas the primary data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and introspection techniques which were purposefully administered to the Standard Four and Standard Seven classes to check onto the methods of teaching English language to public primary schools and their influences on the pupils’ subject academic performance which seems to promote or deteriorate the learners’ interests in English as the medium of instruction. The target sample sizes in Standard Four and Standard Seven were randomly selected for an unbiased information search. The data collected were summarized, organized, recorded- and presented using a variety of tools such as tables, charts, distribution and graphs with the help of Excel and MS Word features which helped the interpretation of the findings to get the relevant information of this article. The findings show that most of the pupils have problems with oral communication, and pronunciation including sound, stress, and intonation as the English Language teaching methods used hardly care about their learning. The article recommends that primary school teachers should be given special training on the English language teaching methods that favour the development of communicative abilities in primary school pupils.
Historical evolution of -ile suffix across bantu languages
(University of Dar es Salaam, 2021) Robinson, Nichodamus
This study investigated the historical evolution of -ile suffix across four selected Bantu languages forming the Nyasa-Tanganyika corridor. Historically, the -ile suffix, as a traditional aspect marker across Bantu languages, is constantly evolving such that it is amenable to different roles, on the one hand, and the suffix induces phonological changes under varying conditions, on the other hand. This poses a challenge in specifying its phonological and morphological properties unless close attention is paid to an individual language. In this regard, the study sought to attain three objectives which are, first, to describe phonological changes associated with - ile across the selected languages. Second, to examine the morphological properties of -ile in relation to tense and aspect marking and lastly, to identify other inflectional morphemes that work in conjunction with -ile suffix across the selected languages forming the Nyasa-Tanganyika corridor. This study is guided by three interdependent theories, namely the Theory of Utterance Selection (TUS), the Reichenbach‟s linear theory and Cognitive theory. The study was conducted in Kyela and Mbeya Rural Council (Mbeya region), Mbozi and Ileje (for Songwe region). Data were collected through the wordlist/sentence list, available written texts, narrative stories and interviews. The findings support the view that -ile suffix is phonologically and morphologically evolving. The evolution of the suffix is shown by some commonalities and variations regarding the morphophonological patterns involving -ile suffix across the languages under study. Variations indicate differences in the pace of innovations within and across languages under study where some patterns involving -ile processes are more advanced than others. However, the judgement about which language is the most innovative or conservative to change one has to rely on individual dimensions. All in all, the findings indicate that -ile suffix does not only mark tense and aspect but also it extends its functions, as it is involved in other situations such as greetings, compliment making and thanksgiving. Further study is recommended on the extent to which the phonological and morphological changes illuminate change in language genetic relationship among languages forming the Nyasa-Tanganyika corridor.
Legitimization discourse to COVID-19 vaccination in Tanzania: a discursive analysis of public speech and comments on social media
(Journal of University of Namibia Language Centre, 2021) Robinson, Nichodamus; Masatu, Julius Malima
The year 2019 Tanzania experienced the eruption of COVID-19 pandemic disease from which different health measures were needed against the pandemic. However, Tanzania had a divided ideological positioning regarding the legitimization of COVID-19 vaccination. This is because the 5th phase government regime did not favour the legitimization of COVID-19 vaccination contrary to the next 6th government regime. This divided ideology has brought dividing tensions among the public leading to different public reactions to the legitimization processes of COVID-19 vaccination in 2021. Therefore, the study aimed at assessing the legitimization discourse of COVID-19 vaccination in Tanzania and different reactions from YouTube online users upon its legitimization. The transcribed data were collected using a documentary review. The units of analysis were the current head of the state and YouTube online followers. Purposive sampling was used to select the head of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination speech. Systematic sampling was used to select 160 YouTube online followers. Descriptive and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was used to guide the analysis and discussions of the findings. The findings showed that the head of the state has used a range of legitimization processes relating to positive self-presentations to win the public a positive face. They include linguistic strategies like emotion, the voice of expertise, rationality, hypothetical features and altruism. YouTube online followers had found to use exclusive linguistic strategies linked to negative self-presentations for de-legitimization purposes. They include nominations, predictions and rationality. It was recommended that legitimization discourse be characterized by using inclusive linguistic strategies that employ positive emotional, hypothetical features, rationality, the voice of expertise and altruism linguistic strategies to win the public a positive face
Morpho-syntactic analysis of sex-related euphemisms and the stretch of dysphemism in Swahili
(JULACE: Journal of the University of Namibia Language Centre, 2024-03-26) Robinson, Nichodamus
This paper analysed the morpho-syntax of sex-related euphemisms and their role in stretching dysphemism in Swahili. Euphemism formation mechanisms are reliant upon societal cultural values, which are not universal. Data were collected in Morogoro through observations, interviews, and Informal Focus Group Discussions (IFGDs). Findings indicate that the morpho-syntax of the noun and verb determines the formation of sex-related euphemisms and the extent of dysphemism. In terms of noun morphosyntax, sex-related euphemisms do not belong to the same class as taboos, amounting to 14 for male and 12 for female sexual body parts. Additionally, the class 9 agreement property -i is intentionally used to form sex-related euphemisms, which can create humour but also stretch dysphemism when uttered unintentionally. Regarding the morphosyntax of verbs, 40.9% of those tested signify sex-related euphemisms in Swahili, depending on speakers' morpho- syntactic manipulations. In conclusion, ignorance of Swahili morpho-syntactic structures may contribute significantly to sex-related dysphemism. Therefore, this paper recommends further study into how Swahili learners' morpho-syntactic structures may lead to sex-related dysphemism
The morphological evolution of the -ile suffix across Bantu languages in the Nyasa-Tanganyika corridor
(Journal of University of Namibia Language Centre, 2021) Mallya, Aurelia; Robinson, Nichodamus
This paper describes the morphological evolution of -ile suffix across four Bantu languages selected from the Nyasa-Tanganyika corridor. The suffix -ile which is traditionally an aspect (perfective) marker is changing and becoming amenable to different roles across Bantu languages. This poses a challenge in specifying its roles as a tense and/or an aspect marker unless attention is paid to an individual language. The findings presented in this paper indicate that in the languages under study, the suffix -ile functions as both a tense and an aspect marker. It co-occurs with pre-root formatives to mark different past tenses. In Nyakyusa, in particular, the suffix marks different categories of aspect, namely anterior, non-progressive and indefinite conditional aspect. However, in Ndali, Malila and Nyiha, the suffix -ile marks only the non-progressive aspect. In this view, this paper concludes that the -ile suffix is gradually vanishing in the forms for aspect meanwhile it extends its roles into marking different tense categories.
The morphological evolution of the -ile suffix across bantu languages in the Nyasa-Tanganyika corridor
(2021) Mallya, Aurelia; Robinson, Nichodamus
This paper describes the morphological evolution of -ile suffix across four Bantu languages selected from the Nyasa-Tanganyika corridor. The suffix -ile which is traditionally an aspect (perfective) marker is changing and becoming amenable to different roles across Bantu languages. This poses a challenge in specifying its roles as a tense and/or an aspect marker unless attention is paid to an individual language. The findings presented in this paper indicate that in the languages under study, the suffix -ile functions as both a tense and an aspect marker. It co-occurs with pre-root formatives to mark different past tenses. In Nyakyusa, in particular, the suffix marks different categories of aspect, namely anterior, non-progressive and indefinite conditional aspect. However, in Ndali, Malila and Nyiha, the suffix -ile marks only the non-progressive aspect. In this view, this paper concludes that the -ile suffix is gradually vanishing in the forms for aspect meanwhile it extends its roles into marking different tense categories
Tako or takwa la Katiba? A description of verb-to-noun derivation in Bantu languages: the case of Kiswahili
(Journal of Linguistics and Language in Education, 2022) Robinson, Nichodamus; Mwaipape, Joshua Andilile
This paper describes verb-to-noun derivation in Kiswahili, a process in which nouns are formed from verbs. It places the derivational process squarely on the question of whether it is ‘tako’ or ‘takwa’, with their plural forms ‘matako’ or ‘matakwa’. The guiding question for this description is “how come the verb ‘taka’ changes to ‘takwa’ as opposed to ‘tako’ while similar verbs change to nouns by -o suffixation?” Data were collected through observation, document review, and interviews. The findings justify the theoretical statement that derivation is less productive. Hence, applying a particular rule too broadly to other entities is relatively hard. In this view, derivation by -o suffixation, as well as by other processes, is limited to some verbs. Since derivation is less productive, Kiswahili has many verb-to-noun derivational processes as presented in this paper under four categories, namely verb-to-noun derivation Type 1 (suffixation of vowels -i, -o, -u, and -e), Type 2 (noun class prefixes), Type 3 (infinitive ku-) and Type 4 (miscellaneous nouns). Hence, the paper concludes that ‘tako la katiba’ with its plural ‘matako ya katiba’ is inappropriate, whereas ‘takwa la katiba’ with its plural ‘matakwa ya katiba’ is appropriate in Kiswahili.
The compromised tense-aspect distinction in bantu languages: the case of Nyakyusa
(International Journal of Current Research in the Humanities (IJCRH), 2023) Robinson, Nichodamus
This article examined the compromised tense-aspect distinction in Bantu languages, using Nyakyusa as a case study. The review of scholarly works indicates that, in Bantu languages, the changing nature of tense-aspect systems remains to be the source of the problem for tense-aspect distinction. The paper investigates the source of the problem and a way in which Nyakyusa can describe tense-aspect distinction. The study was conducted in Kyela District in Mbeya Region where many native speakers live. Data were collected through narrative stories, interviews and written texts. The findings reveal that although the -ile suffix is the source of the compromised tense-aspect distinction as it assumes different roles; it remains a good candidate for testing tense-aspect distinction. When the - ile suffix co-occurs with the pre-root formative, -a- it marks the past tense whereas the suffix -ile occurring alone marks aspect categories. Also, when the negative marker -ka- is introduced the -ile suffix disappears for aspect and remains for tense.
Word formation: the Description of the Nyakyusa Derivation and Inflection
(Center for Promoting Ideas, USA, 2016-11) Robinson, Nichodamus
This paper describes Nyakyusa, by examining the extent to which affixation is attested and making a distinction between inflection and derivation. Studies show that the distinction between them is not clear. There is a blurred distinction between derivation and inflection based on the morphology of the noun. The noun class prefixes are inflectional since they mark person and number contrast and the same prefixes are derivational since they derive new nouns with various degrees of semantic relationship to the original noun. Therefore, it seems to be difficult to draw a clear demarcation between derivational and inflectional affixes based on the morphology of noun in Nyakyusa. However, based on the morphology of the verb, several affixes can be analyzed as inflectional while others are derivational. The pre-root and some post-root affixes of the verb are inflectional since they mark tense/aspect and polarity while most post-root affixes in slot 7 are derivational.