Assibi Apatewon Amidu
About
About me
I am Professor Emeritus of Kiswahili/Swahili (language, linguistics, literature, and culture).
I hold the following degrees:
BA in French with Swahili from the University of Ghana, Ghana (1973).
Masters in an African language (Swahili language and literature) (1976), SOAS Unversity of London.
PhD in an African language and linguistics (Swahili) (1980), SOAS University of London.
I taught Kiswahili/Swahili from 1980 to 2018.
I am currently doing only research work.
Research interests I
Kiswahili/Swahili language and linguistic structure, primarily its morphology and syntax, with emphasis on the following:
Gender and noun classes in Kiswahili/Swahili and Bantu.
The paradox of matrix NPs in Kiswahili/Swahili and syntactic theory.
Transitivity and argument structure in Kiswahili/Swahili.
Pronouns and pronominalization, including reflexive and reflexivization and relativization.
The paradox of Kiswahili/Swahili locative syntax in modern linguistic syntax.
Tenses in Kiswahili.
The diversity between Kiswahili/Kiswahili language structure, on one side, and linguistic, typological, documentation and, grammatical theories and models, on the other side.
Aspects of language contact, especially lexical and grammatical borrowings.
Research interests II
Kiswahili/Swahili history, civilization, culture, and literature (both traditional and modern).
Kiswahili/Swahili in the social, cultural, educational and political development of East Africa.
Kiswahili/Kiswahili in national and transnational language planning, education, broadcasting, and as a vehicle of wide communication (LWC) or lingua franca.
Kiswahili/Swahili as a medium for the expression of identity, as well as political, global, religious, human, children and gender rights both in Eastern African and in the diaspora.
Kiswahili/Swahili and modernity in a global world.
Current project
Tenses in Kiswahili/Swahili with particular emphasis on gaps in the their grammatical descriptions.
Duties
I was responsible for all aspects of Kiswahili/Swahilli programme and teaching from 1992-2018.
I was a member of the Programme Board for Foreign Languages in our department.
Membership of societies
Member of the Linguistic Association of Korea.
Member of the Association for Linguistic Typology (ALT).
Member of the Nordic Association of Linguistics.
Member of the editorial board of the Journal of Humanities (JH), University of Dodoma, Tanzania.
Links:
Publications
2018
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2018)
Locative and Non-locative in Kiswahili Bantu. A Study of Inversion, Transitivity, and Choice.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
2017
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2017)
Why is the Locative NP in Kiswahili not Syntactically Oblique?.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
2015
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2015)
Remarks on Agreements in Kiswahili Possessive NPs.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
2014
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2014)
A Study of Non-Colonial Prepositions in Kiswahili.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
2013
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2013)
Objects and complements in Kiswahili clauses : : a study of their mechanisms and patterns.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
2012
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2012)
PP Arguments in Kiswahili Bantu and their Implications for Transitivity Theory.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
2011
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2011)
African language teaching and research with emphasis on Swahili.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2011)
Reflexive and reciprocal syntax revisited : apologia for internal evidence in Kiswahili.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
2010
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2010)
Motivation and Transitivity: the Problem of the Intransitive in Kiswahili Bantu.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2010)
Comments on the review by Kathrin Tiewa (Cologne) 2009.
Afrikanistik online
Short communication
2009
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2009)
The role of Islam in the political and social perceptions of the Waswahili of Lamu.
Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2009)
Matrix Nominal Phrases in Kiswahili Bantu. A Study of their Effects on Argument Syntax.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2009)
A Note on a Shared Heritage: The Bread Culture of the Waswahili of Zanzibar.
Journal of Humanities (JH)
Academic article
2008
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2008)
On the Trail of Inanimate Entities in Kiswahili Classes 1/2, MU1/WA.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
2007
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2007)
Semantic assigment rules in Bantu classes. A renalysis based on Kiswahili.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2007)
Why locative marking in Kiswahili Bantu is not that simple.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
2006
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2006)
Pronouns and Pronominalizations in Kiswahili Grammar.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2006)
The Syntax and Semantics of Naming Strings in Kiswahili Classes.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
2004
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2004)
Political Poetry among the Swahili: The Kimondo Verses from Lamu.
Africa World Press
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2004)
Reflexives and Reflexivization in Kiswahili Grammar.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2004)
Kiswahili Language Description and Translational Grammars.
Taiwan journal of linguistics
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2004)
The Problem of Entity Denoting Nouns in the Kiswaili Locative Class.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
2003
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2003)
Conflict between tradition and social change. A case study in Kenya.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2003)
Language Teaching and Semantic Interpretation in Kiswahili Classes.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
2002
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2002)
The paradox of number and non-number in Kiswahili classes.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
2001
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2001)
Argument and Predicate Relations in Kiswahili A New Analysis of Transitiveness in Bantu.
Grammatische Analysen Afrikanischer Sprachen
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2001)
Language and Development Research in Africa: Based on Kiswahili, Buli and Akan Traditions.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
1998
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(1998)
The Problem of Lexical Cohesion and Lexical Structure in Bantu Classes (Part 2).
Nordic Journal of African Studies
Academic article
1997
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(1997)
Classes in Kiswahili : a study of their forms and implications.
R@ydiger K@øppe
Non-fiction book
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(1997)
Classes in Kiswahili. A Study of their Forms and Implications.
East African Languages and Dialects
Academic monograph
Journal publications
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2017)
Why is the Locative NP in Kiswahili not Syntactically Oblique?.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2015)
Remarks on Agreements in Kiswahili Possessive NPs.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2014)
A Study of Non-Colonial Prepositions in Kiswahili.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2012)
PP Arguments in Kiswahili Bantu and their Implications for Transitivity Theory.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2010)
Motivation and Transitivity: the Problem of the Intransitive in Kiswahili Bantu.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2010)
Comments on the review by Kathrin Tiewa (Cologne) 2009.
Afrikanistik online
Short communication
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2009)
A Note on a Shared Heritage: The Bread Culture of the Waswahili of Zanzibar.
Journal of Humanities (JH)
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2008)
On the Trail of Inanimate Entities in Kiswahili Classes 1/2, MU1/WA.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2007)
Why locative marking in Kiswahili Bantu is not that simple.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2006)
The Syntax and Semantics of Naming Strings in Kiswahili Classes.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2004)
Kiswahili Language Description and Translational Grammars.
Taiwan journal of linguistics
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2004)
The Problem of Entity Denoting Nouns in the Kiswaili Locative Class.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2003)
Language Teaching and Semantic Interpretation in Kiswahili Classes.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2002)
The paradox of number and non-number in Kiswahili classes.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2001)
Language and Development Research in Africa: Based on Kiswahili, Buli and Akan Traditions.
Linguistic Association of Korea Journal
Academic article
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(1998)
The Problem of Lexical Cohesion and Lexical Structure in Bantu Classes (Part 2).
Nordic Journal of African Studies
Academic article
Books
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2018)
Locative and Non-locative in Kiswahili Bantu. A Study of Inversion, Transitivity, and Choice.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2013)
Objects and complements in Kiswahili clauses : : a study of their mechanisms and patterns.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2011)
Reflexive and reciprocal syntax revisited : apologia for internal evidence in Kiswahili.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2009)
Matrix Nominal Phrases in Kiswahili Bantu. A Study of their Effects on Argument Syntax.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2007)
Semantic assigment rules in Bantu classes. A renalysis based on Kiswahili.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2006)
Pronouns and Pronominalizations in Kiswahili Grammar.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2004)
Reflexives and Reflexivization in Kiswahili Grammar.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2001)
Argument and Predicate Relations in Kiswahili A New Analysis of Transitiveness in Bantu.
Grammatische Analysen Afrikanischer Sprachen
Academic monograph
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(1997)
Classes in Kiswahili : a study of their forms and implications.
R@ydiger K@øppe
Non-fiction book
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(1997)
Classes in Kiswahili. A Study of their Forms and Implications.
East African Languages and Dialects
Academic monograph
Part of book/report
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2011)
African language teaching and research with emphasis on Swahili.
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2009)
The role of Islam in the political and social perceptions of the Waswahili of Lamu.
Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2004)
Political Poetry among the Swahili: The Kimondo Verses from Lamu.
Africa World Press
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Amidu, Assibi Apatewon.
(2003)
Conflict between tradition and social change. A case study in Kenya.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Knowledge Transfer
2018
-
Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2018) How many Auxiliary Verbs has Kiswahili Bantu?. Department of Modern Languages, Kiswahili Section Seminar Series of the School of Languages, University of Ghana , University of Ghana 2018-04-19 - 2018-04-19
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2018) Mgwame, a King of Tundwa in Pate and his Millet Baskets. Department of Modern Languages, Kiswahili Section Seminar Series of the School of Languages, University of Ghana , University of Ghana 2018-04-19 - 2018-04-19
2017
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2017) How many Auxiliary Verbs are there in Kiswahili Bantu?. University of Bayreuth, Iwalewa-Haus 30th Swahili Colloquium , Bayreuth 2017-05-26 - 2017-05-28
2014
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2014) Where are the auxiliary verbs of Kiswahili Bantu?. Leiden University, Dept. of African Languages and Cultures 44th Colloquium on African Languages and Linguistics , Leiden 2014-08-25 - 2014-08-27
2013
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2013) How valid is preposition incorporation for Kiswahili predicate verbs?. University of Bayreuth, Iwalewa-Haus 26th Swahili Colloquium , Bayreuth 2013-05-10 - 2013-05-12
2012
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2012) What about Linguistic Liberation? The Case of Prepositions in Kiswahili Grammar. Institute of Kiswahili Studies, University of Dar es Salaam An International Conference on 50 Years of Kiswahili as Language of African Liberation, Unification and Renaisance , Dar es Salaam 2012-10-04 - 2012-10-06
2011
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2011) Subject and Object transpositions in Kiswahili Bantu. University of Bayreuth, Iwalewa-Haus 24th Swahili Colloquium , Bayreuth 2011-06-03 - 2011-06-05
2010
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2010) Simplified versus Idiomatic Kiswahili: A look at Possessives and Possession in Predication-sentences (Pn-Ss). University of Bayreuth, Iwalewa-Haus 23rd Swahili Colloquium , Bayreuth 2010-05-14 - 2010-05-16
2009
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2009) Possessor and possessed NPs in possessive syntax in Kiswahili Bantu. Royal Museum for Central Africa, Service of Linguistics Bantu 3 -3rd International Conferance on Bantu Languages , Tervuren 2009-03-25 - 2009-03-27
2008
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2008) Where are the double or multiple locative complements of Kiswahili predication-sentences. Universität Bayreuth 21. Swahili-Kolloquium , Bayreuth 2008-05-02 - 2008-05-04
2007
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2007) On the object-AGENTs of Kiswahili predications. Institutionen för orientaliska och afrikanska språk International conference. Bantu languages: analysis, description and theory , Göteborg 2007-10-04 - 2007-10-06
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2007) Kiswahili language use and language competence: on the trail of two inanimate NPs in classes 1/2. Universität Bayreuth 20. Swahili-Kolloquium , Bayreuth 2007-05-18 - 2007-05-20
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2007) Celebrating African language teaching and research with emphasis on Kiswahili. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology. African Languages, Göteborg University Symposium "Nordic contributions to African Languages". On the occassion of the Year of African Languages 2006-2007 , Göteborg 2007-04-27 - 2007-04-28
2006
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2006) What is an Object NP of PC or V in Kiswahili? A Test of Knowledge of the Transitive. University of Bayreuth, Iwalewa-Haus 19th Swahili-Kolloquium , Bayreuth 2006-05-26 - 2006-06-28
2005
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2005) What is the domain of semantic assignment rules in Kiswahili Bantu classes?. University of Bayreuth 18. Swahili-Kolloquium , Bayreuth 2005-05-06 - 2005-05-08
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2005) The role of Islam in the political and social perceptions of the Waswahili of Lamu. University Museum of Cultural History, UiO The 6th Swahili Workshop , Oslo 2005-03-31 - 2005-04-02
2004
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2004) What is the domain of the locative in Kiswahili?. Universität Bayreuth 17. Swahili-Kolloquium , Bayreuth 2004-05-21 - 2004-05-23
2003
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2003) Personal pronouns and animacy in Kiswahili classes. 33rd Colloquium on African Languages and Linguistics , Universiteit Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands 2003-08-27 -
2001
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (2001) Problems of Modernity among the Waswahili. A Political View from the Kimondo Verses of Lamu. Fifth Anglo-French Swahili Workshop/5eme Table-Ronde Swahili Francophone-Anglophone , London 2001-09-15 -
1999
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Popular scientific lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (1999) The transitive prospects of some 'Intransitive' predicate verbs in Kiswahili. Universität Bayreuth 12. Swahili colloquium , Bayreuth 1999-05-14 - 1999-05-15
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Academic lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (1999) Some problems of class descriptions in Bantu with special reference to Kiswahili. , Göteborg Univ., Dept. of Oriental and African languages, 17 March
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Popular scientific lectureAmidu, Assibi Apatewon. (1999) Nominal predicates (prepositions) in Kiswahili as argument elements. 29. Colloquium on African Languages and Linguistics , Leiden, August 30 - September 1 1999