ANNUAL REPORT 2020/EVENTS FOR THE YEAR 2021
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
The Department of Linguistics and Languages offers both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts programs. It services the Bachelor of Education program at the College of Education and External Studies, Kikuyu Campus. It also has students registered for PhD degree.
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED
The B. A. programs are in Linguistics and English, Intercultural German Studies, Korean Studies, Arabic Studies, Chinese and Language and Communication. The Department has three M.A. programs. These are M. A. in Arabic Studies, M. A. in Linguistics and M. A. in German Studies. All these show how dynamic the department is. M. A. in Linguistics has full-time and part-time programs. The Department also offers PhD. studies in these three areas. The M.A. and PhD. in Linguistics programs give students the opportunity to conduct research on various aspects of languages spoken in Kenya and in other parts of the world. Currently, the Department also offers a Certificate Course in Portuguese Language and Culture.
STRATEGIC ISSUES
The Department is looking for ways to increase research on and teach mother languages in Kenya. The Department is also looking for ways of increasing the number of foreign languages on offer.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE YEAR 2020
- The Department of Linguistics and Languages Celebrated the International Mother Language Day on Friday February 21, 2020. The theme of the Day was ‘Preserving Linguistic Diversity and Promoting Multilingualism to Support Sustainable Development Goals: The Beauty of Mother-Language’
- One member of the Department participated in training Class 7, Class 8, Form 1 and Form 2 school teachers on how to use Inquiry Based Learning in teaching English. The Project was called School Based Teacher Support System. It was done under Teachers Service Commission and was funded by the World Bank.
- The Department published Volume 8 of The University of Nairobi Journal of Linguistics and Languages in October, 2020.
CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
One member of the Department participated in training Class 7, Class 8, Form 1 and Form 2 school teachers on how to use Inquiry Based Learning in teaching English. The Project was called School Based Teacher Support System. It was done under Teachers Service Commission and was funded by the World Bank.
STAFF PORTFOLIO
- Prof. Jane Oduor training secondary and primary school teachers of English to used Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) in teaching English at Eregi Teachers’ College in Kakamega County.
- Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia receives a gift from the President of the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (South Korea), In Chul Kim, after teaching in that University for two years.
- Professor Kithaka wa Mberia’s publication entitled ‘Mvumo wa Helicopter.’
- Members of the Department of Linguistics and Languages (P), Department of Kiswahili and the Sub-Department of French the 1st African Pragmatics Conference at the University of Ghana, Legon in Ghana in February, 2020. From left, they are Prof. Jane Oduor, Ms. Caroline Mutai, Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia, Dr Zipporah Otiso, Prof. Helga Schroeder and Dr Prisca Jerono.
PROJECTIONS
The Department will look for partners to work with in an effort to increase research on and teach mother languages in Kenya. The Department is also looking for ways of increasing the number of foreign languages on offer through partnerships.
MEMBERS OF STAFF
The table below captures the numbers of the academic and non-academic staff of the Department.
- Full Professor 1
- Associate Professor 2
- Senior Lecturers 3
- Lecturers 16
- Assistant Lecturers 1
- Tutorial Fellows 3
- Secretary 1
- TOTAL 27 Members of Staff
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The department admitted international students to take MA in German Studies and MA in Linguistics.
INTERNATIONAL LINKS AND COLLABORATIONS
- The department (through the University) has a MoU with DAAD where students from various African countries are sponsored biannually to take M. A. in Intercultural German Studies.
- The department also has a MoU with Bible Translation and Literacy (BTL), Kenya. In the last three consecutive years the department has organized International Mother Language Day celebrations jointly with BTL, East Africa.
- The department also has a MoU with Korea Foundation (KF). The latter sent a visiting lecturer, Ms. Yuhjin Park, to teach Korean language to Korean Studies students.
- The department also has a MoU with Camoes Institute. The latter sent a visiting lecturer, Ms. Ana Alfaiate, to teach Portuguese language to students at the University of Nairobi.
PUBLICATIONS BY MEMBERS OF STAFF IN JOURNALS
- Prof. Helga Schroeder (May 2020) The Syntax and Semantics of Clause-chaining in Toposa. Studies in African Linguistics, Vol. 49, pp.60-83
- Komenda; S., Oduor, J.A.N. and Jerono, P. (October, 2020). Speaker Age-Related Effects on the Intonation of Simple Declarative Paratones in Ekegusii. University of Nairobi Journal of Linguistics and Languages, Vol. 8(2020), pp. 117-135
- Nandama, S. K., Oduor, J.A.N. and Mwangi, P.I. (October, 2020) The Tonal Patterns of Nouns in Isolation in the Lwisukha Dialect of Luyia. University of Nairobi Journal of Linguistics and Languages, Vol. 8(2020), pp. 84 - 106
- Orao, James (10/2020) Nationalism, Subversive History and Citizenship: the Quest for Identity in the Postcolonial Nation in M.G. Vassanji’s The In-Between World of Vikram Lall. Anuari de Filologia. Literatures Contemporànies (Anu.Filol.Lit.Contemp.)
PAPERS PRESENTED AT SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES
Helga Schroeder (February, 2020) A pragmatic view on clause linkages in Toposa, an Eastern Nilotic language of South Sudan: AfrPrag. University of Ghana
Zipporah Otiso (February, 2020) The “welcome” and “unwelcome” meanings of Madam as an address term in Kenyan English usage. AfrPrag. University of Ghana
Zipporah Otiso (February, 2020) Translating from English into Ekegusii in Radio News and Advertisements. IMLD. MMUST, Kenya
Jane Oduor (February, 2020) The Interface Between Pragmatics and Prosody in Dholuo. AfrPrag. University of Ghana
Jane Oduor (February, 2020) Language documentation: What it is and how to apply for an Endangered Language Documentation Programme (ELDP) grant. IMLD. MMUST, Kenya
Kithaka wa Mberia (February, 2020) Exaggeration as Source of Humour. AfrPrag. University of Ghana
Alfred Buregeya (February, 2020) Corpus Linguistics for Researching the Indigenous mother tongues of Africa. IMLD. MMUST, Kenya
Ana Alfaiate (February, 2020) The Global Interpreter - The Interpreter as a facilitator in Refugees' Integration in New Societies. IMLD. University of Nairobi, Kenya
Yuhjin Park (June 2020) Asian Cultural Community in Africa. Online from Kenya to Korean audience (Ewha University and Seoul National University of Science and Technology) From UoN (Online)
CONFERENCES/SEMINARS HELD BY THE DEPARTMENT
Celebrating International Mother Language Day
Preserving Linguistic Diversity and Promoting Multilingualism to Support Sustainable Development Goals: The Beauty of Mother-Language
February 21, 2020
RESOURCES/ FACILITIES
One of the teaching spaces, conference room, office and books donated by Korean Institutions
GRADUATION (PhD Candidates for the Year 2020)
Dr. Mary Ndung’u, a candidate in the Department of Linguistics and Languages and a member of staff in the Department of Kiswahili, graduated with a PhD degree in Linguistics during the 63rd UoN Graduation Ceremony.
Dr. Yemurai Chikwangura, a German Studies PhD candidate in the Department of Linguistics and Languages and a member of staff at the University of Zimbabwe, graduated with a PhD degree in German Studies during the 64th UoN Graduation Ceremony.
TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES
Translation and interpretation services are offered by individual members of the academic staff. The amount charged per page is dependent on the document presented and market rates.
STAFF LIFE
Dr. Mary Ndung’u takes a photo with some members of the Department of Linguistics and Languages, other colleagues and friends, during the celebration of her achievement, just after the 63rd UoN Graduation Ceremony. She graduated with a PhD degree in Linguistics.
Dr. Mary Ndung’u thanks God for this great achievement. She graduated with a PhD degree in Linguistics.
Many members of the Department of Linguistics and Languages joined Dr. Mary Ndungu’s in celebrating her achievement just after the 63rd UoN Graduation Ceremony. She graduated with a PhD degree in Linguistics.
Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia receives a gift from the President of the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (South Korea), In Chul Kim, after teaching in that University for two years.
RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND ENTERPRISE
- Okiek Language Documentation Project
https://www.elararchive.org/dk0412/ (almost complete)
- School Based Teacher Support System (SBTSS) is under the Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQIP). It is meant to support Science, Mathematics and English (SME) teachers in both primary and secondary schools in some counties.
Some Members of the research Team: Prof. W. Akala, Prof. J. Oduor, Dr. Alex Wanjala and Dr. Obosi.
INNOVATIONS
School-Based Teacher Support System
https://www.facebook.com/UON-English-School-Based-Teacher-Support-System-SBTSS-104189034442523/
SOME EVENTS FOR THE YEAR 2021
STUDENTS AFFAIRS/ LIFE
- MA mentorship programme: When the MA students complete course work, they are given a seminar on leadership within their communities (expectations of their communities) choosing in addition to choosing their topics and proposal writing. (https://classroom.google.com/c/MjUyNzc4NDU4Mzkx?cjc=pi2i3qf)
- Mentorship of language students to help them realise the importance of mother languages. This is usually done during the celebration of International Mother Language Day every year. This year’s mother language Day celebration is on You tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma9lBsGqlX0&ab_channel=UniversityofNairobi
MA RESEARCH PROJECTS (ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS)
Abdi Addow (C50/35542/2019) Dialectal variations of the Somali Language (1. Prof. Jane Oduor/2. Dr. Mohammed Akidah)
Alexine Meloute EP Bonde (C50/35603/2019) Sentential negation in Guadeloupean Creole: Description and analysis (1. Prof Helga Schröder/2. Dr. David Barasa)
Daniel Amenya (C50/35745/2019) A morpho-syntactic study of the Ekegusii Phase structure of the verb system (1. Dr. Fred Atoh/2. Dr. Patrick Kihara)
Mary James Mueni (C50/14850/2018) A stylistic analysis of Kenyan Memes (1. Dr. Gideon Marete/2. Dr. James Orao)
Kandi Omolo Barbara (C50/15701/2018) A Conceptual Metaphor Theoretical Analysis of non-literary Metaphors (1. Prof. Helga Schröder/2. Elisabeth Ochola)
Kinyua Linet (C50/35745/2019) Consonant changes in the lexicon of the Ndia dialects. (1. Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia/2. Dr. Zipporah Otiso)
Lisper W. Mwai (C50/36463/2020) Analysis of favoured by-products of Radio Avertisements in Gikuyu (1. Dr. Alice Wachira/2. Dr. Norbert Basweti)
Joyce Waweru (C50/80495/201) Understanding and Interpretation of Verbal irony in Kimbeere Verbal Utterances. (1. Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia/2. Dr. Basweti)
Martin Maingi Ekabu (C50/16390/2018) An analysis of Adaption of English technological loan words in Kiimenti dialect of Kimeru (1. Prof. Jane Oduor/2. Dr. Mohammed Akidah)
Milkah Gathoni Muigia (C50/23510/2019) Cognitive approach to poetry (1. Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia/2. Dr. James Orao)
Pamela Auma (C50/15227/2018) Comparative Error Analysis in Written English of the Grade four Leaners in Migori County: a competence Based curriculum approach (1. Dr. Catherine Agoya/2. Dr. Atoh)
Kipchumba Peter Too (C50/85061/2016) Competence-Based Curriculum and L2 Learning: A Shift in both Strategy and Focus (1. Dr. Alfred Buregeya/2. Helen Omangi)
Stella Mburu (C50/32454/2019) Teaching children with dyslexia and disgraphia in primary schools in Lari sub county, Kenya: A case study of methods used by teachers to teach English in a normal class setting. (1. Dr. Alfred Buregeya/2. Dr. Zipporah Otisso)
Thomas Nyutu (C50/34672/2019) The linguistic aesthetics of Epitaphs at Lang’ata Cemetery, Nairobi County (1. Dr. Catherine Agoya/2. Dr. SilvanoMurithi)
DEPARTMENTAL SEMINARS (MA AND PHD PROPOSAL PRESENTATION SEMINARS)
1ST M.A PROPOSAL DEFENSES – M.A FULL/PART TIME PROGRAMME DATE: 24 February, 2021 (Online)
Thomas Nyutu
C50/34672/2019
The linguistic aesthetics of Epitaphs at Lang’ata Cemetery, Nairobi County
1. Dr. Catherine Agoya
2. Dr. SilvanoMurithi
Lisper W. Mwai
C50/36463/2020
Analysis of favoured by-products of Radio Advertisements in Gikuyu
1. Dr. Alice Wachira
2. Dr. Norbert Basweti
Mercy Soy
C50/11247/2018
A morpho-syntactic study of Kipsigis Anthroponyms
1. Dr. Zipporah Otisso
2. Dr. Barasa
Everlyne Gikenyi
C50/5870/2017
Analysis of the turn-taking concept in Ekegusii Conversation
1. Dr. Zipporah Otiso
2. Jacinta Kiranga
John Njoroge
Preliminary documentation of the Yaaku Language and an analysis of its syllable structure
1. Prof. Jane Oduor
2. Dr. Keneth Ngure
Jovan Mutamba
C50/13165/2018
Erinnerung and die Wende in Jana Hensels Wenderoman
Zonenkinder
1. Dr. James Orao
2. Dr. Tobias Lechner
M.A. LINGUISTICS PROPOSAL Defenses – M.A FULL/PART 2 DATE: 31st of March, 2021 (Online)
Pamela Auma
C50/15227/2018
Comparative Error Analysis in Written English of the Grade four Leaners in Migori County: a competence Based curriculum approach
1. Dr. Catherine Agoya
2. Dr. Atoh
Abdi Addow
C50/35542/2019
Dialectal variations of the Somali Language
1. Prof. Jane Oduor
2. Dr. Mohammed Akidah
Alexine Meloute EP Bonde
C50/35603/2019
Sentential negation in Guadeloupean Creole: Description and analysis
1. Prof Helga Schröder
2. Dr. David Barasa
Daniel Amenya
C50/35745/2019
A morpho-syntactic study of the Ekegusii Phase structure of the verb system
1. Dr. Fred Atoh
2. Dr. Patrick Kihara
Kandi Omolo Barbara
C50/15701/2018
A Conceptual Metaphor Theoretical Analysis of non-literary Metaphors
1. Prof. Helga Schröder
2. Elisabeth Ochola
Martin MaingiEkabu
C50/16390/2018
An analysis of Adaption of English technological loan words in Kiimenti dialect of Kimeru
1. Prof. Jane Oduor
2. Dr. Mohammed Akidah
Stella Mburu
C50/32454/2019
Teaching children with dyslexia and disgraphia in primary schools in Lari sub county, Kenya: A case study of methods used by teachers to teach English in a normal class setting.
1. Dr. Alfred Buregeya
2. Dr. Zipporah Otisso
COMMUNITY SERVICE
PROMOTION OF CULTURAL AND SOCIAL SOCIETY
- International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is celebrated by the Department every year.
- Unvailing of the Ogiek Bible
Prof. Jane Oduor, who participated in the establishment of Ogiek orthography, and Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia, a mother language activist, joined Bible Translation and Literacy, East Africa (BTL) in Unveiling of the Gospel of St. Luke on 20th February, 2021 in Narok County. Both members of staff were given a copy of the Gospel of St. Luke.
Prof. Jane Oduor, who participated in the establishment of Ogiek orthography, and Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia, a mother language activist, each receive a copy of the Gospel of St. Luke written in the Ogiek language.
UoN@50 CONTENT
IMLD Conference Speakers
IMLD Programme (page 1)
IMLD Programme (page 2)
The Department of Linguistics and Languages and BTL, East Africa in collaboration with Mulyilingual Education Network, Kenya (MLEN) Celebrated the International Mother Language Day as part of Celebrating UoN@50.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma9lBsGqlX0&ab_channel=UniversityofNairobi
LUMINARY GUEST SPEAKERS/NOTABLE RESEARCHERS DURING UoN@50 UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY CELEBRATIONS (IMLD)
Prof Martin Ngoroge (USIU)
Prof Kembo Sure (Retired from Moi University)
Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia (UoN)
Prof Helga Schroeder (UoN)
Prof. Jayne Mutiga (UoN)
Dr. Zipporah Otiso (UoN)
Mr Jacob Njagi (BTL)
Mr. Tomothy Kamau (SIL)
Prof. Githiora (Kenyatta University)
Dr Joyce wagia (Kenyatta University)
Rev. Peter Munguti (Director, BTL, East Africa)
H.E. Amb. Jahangir Talukder, Bangladesh High Commission
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma9lBsGqlX0&ab_channel=UniversityofNairobi
- International Mother Language Day (IMLD) Celebrations at Rongo University
Keynote Speaker (Dr. Fred Atoh)
Dr Fred Atoh, represented Prof. Jane Oduor, in International Mother Language Day Celebrations at Rongo University on Homa Bay County. He was the key note speaker.
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
COVID-19:
The Department plans to organize a seminar on Language matters related to COVID-19 in June 2021
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
International Mother Language Day Conference (Multilingual Education Network Webinar)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma9lBsGqlX0&ab_channel=UniversityofNairobi
UPCOMING CONFERENCE
2nd African Pragmatics Conference at the University of Nairobi (February 2021). The Call for Abstracts will be out in the Next Few Weeks.
UPCOMING WEBINARS
COVID-19:
The Department plans to organize a seminar on Language matters related to COVID-19 in June 2021
- Log in to post comments