Abstract:
A number of universities in Kenya courses in Kiswahili. This being a language, a number
of those courses rely on research that has been done all over the world in various
languages. In order for this body of language to be shared and used during instructions
in Kiswahili classes by the instructors, translation plays a very important part. A basic
course in translation is necessary as a facility to help share that knowledge. This study
examined the place given to translation studies as a tool to the study of linguistics in
Kiswahili. Common reference texts used in Kiswahili linguistics were analyzed to
determine the extent to which they relied on translation as a discipline. Curriculums of
universities were also looked at. Results indicated that some universities did not teach
translation studies to some of the students whose courses of study included linguistics in
Kiswahili. Others included translation studies at much higher levels and therefore not
useful to beginners. It is recommended that all students studying linguistics in Kiswahili
be taught translation studies at the point of the start of their studies to enable them to
use it as a facility for further linguistics research.
