23.2029, Calls: Swahili, Sociolinguistics/Kenya

Wed Apr 25 15:13:31 UTC 2012

LINGUIST List: Vol-23-2029. Wed Apr 25 2012. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 23.2029, Calls: Swahili, Sociolinguistics/Kenya

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Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:12:28
From: Mohamed Karama [ifarymrca at yahoo.com]
Subject: Swahili International Conference

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Full Title: Swahili International Conference 

Date: 25-Oct-2012 - 27-Oct-2012
Location: Mambasa, Kenya 
Contact Person: Khalid Kitito
Meeting Email: khalid.kitito at museums.or.ke
Web Site: http://www.rissea.org 

Linguistic Field(s): Sociolinguistics 

Subject Language(s): Swahili (swh)

Call Deadline: 31-May-2012 

Meeting Description:

In 2009, a proposal was put forward during a meeting in Dar es Salaam that Kiswahili be an official language in the United Nations alongside other major world languages like English.  The suggestion came after Africa Union had adopted Kiswahili as one of the official languages utilized during its sessions. The significance of Kiswahili as an official language, regionally, was elevated by the adoption of the East African Community as one of the criteria for membership in the trading block. Individual countries like Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi have already put in place plans of incorporating Kiswahili in their national education curricula. Kenya has recently entrenched Kiswahili as her second official language in its new constitution. What does this tell a common man on the streets of east Africa and beyond? That Kiswahili now is being put into officialdom to be utilized in all spheres of human interaction anywhere in the world. This is the status Kiswahili has gained currentl!
 y.

How are we prepared for such monumental tasks of developing Kiswahili in the same manner as what other world languages are doing?  Phenomenological realities such as globalization and laser speed scientific and technological advancements warrant what kind of pace Kiswahili should roll its engines? Emerging issues such as environmental concerns, peace and security, interstate relations, changing World Orders, upcoming metropolises, ever mutating education systems, calls for democracy, media publications and the resultant African identity concerns put Kiswahili on the spot on which is/are the best option offered by Kiswahili to address these issues?

The Research Institute of Swahili Studies of Eastern Africa is a research directorate within the National Museums of Kenya, a not for profit organization. This is our second international conference and we are looking forward to succeeding in this endeavor of promoting Kiswahili internationally. 

Call for Papers:

The workshop welcomes presentations from diverse disciplines in the arts and sciences that will highlight ways in which Kiswahili as an official language will be utilized in this era of inter disciplinary networks in all human dealings. The papers will shed light on general and applied linguistics covering any field area. 

All abstracts of maximum 500 words in Word format to reach khalidkitito at yahoo.com before the deadline date.

Theme of the Conference:

Official Language and Development: The Case of Kiswahili in Modern Africa

Sub Themes:

1. Kiswahili & International Relations
2. Kiswahili, Science and Technological Advancement
3. Kiswahili & Africa Cultural Identity
4. Kiswahili & the Metropolis 
5. Kiswahili & African States Integration
6. Kiswahili & Education Systems in Africa
7. Kiswahili & Civic Education
8. Kiswahili & African Literature
9. Kiswahili & Democracy
10. Kiswahili & the Media
11. Kiswahili & Conflict Resolution in Africa

Papers could focus on the sub themes mentioned or the overall theme in general.

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