TRANSLATION AND THE TEACHING OF LINGUISTICS IN KISWAHILI IN KENYAN UNIVERSITIES

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.