Semantic Change in Swahili Words Borrowed From Arabic Language
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Date
2023Author
Hassan, Funani A
Type
ThesisLanguage
otherMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study discusses semantic change in Swahili words borrowed from Arabic language. The
study is done within the provisions of the contextual theory of semantics which states that
the meanings of words are context sensitive and change in different contexts. The study
observes that the assignment of meanings to Swahili words of Arabic origin is associated
with the cultural context of the Swahili language. The study describes the various forms of
semantic change that take place and the subsequent lexical meanings that get assigned to
Swahili words borrowed Arabic. The forms of semantic change described in the study are
semantic broadening, narrowing, shift and pejoration. The study data was obtained from a
Kiswahili dictionary ‘Kamusi ya Karne ya 21’ where purposive sampling was used to identify
the Swahili words of Arabic origin that exhibited semantic change. The study focuses on the
standard variety of both languages, that is, Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Standard
Kiswahili. The study concludes that some Swahili words of Arabic origin have adopted
meanings that are radically different from their original usage in Arabic.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
- Faculty of Arts [754]
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