Academic papers and other articles on Chichewa
If you would like to know more about Chichewa, the history of the language and how it influences Malawian culture, we have an interesting selection below.
History of Chichewa
Dr Francis Moto
| Background on Chichewa |
Language and Societal Attitudes:
A Study of Malawi's ‘New Language’
Dr Francis Moto, Nordic Journal of African Studies 10(3): 320-343 (2001)
This paper looks at some of the ways in which Chichewa has changed over time. Of particular interest to us at Chichewa 101 is the view that some of the 'New Language' is a form of rebellion - an attempt by current generations to break away from certain rules and traditions.
Towards a Study of the Lexicon of Sex and HIV/AIDS
Dr Francis Moto, Nordic Journal of African Studies 13(3): 343–362 ( 2004)
| Chichewa, Sex and HIV/AIDS |
Sexual activity is obviously a big part of life in Malawi as evidenced by the rampant speed with which HIV/AIDS spread since it was first formally diagnosed in 1985 in Malawi. However, talking about sex is a big taboo. This paper discusses the metaphors, euphemisms and idioms that people use to describe sex, sexual organs and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The paper also talks about the impact that this indirect way of talking about sex might have on interventions aimed at eradicating HIV/AIDS in Malawi. The language used by college students to describe their ongoings was of particular interest to us at Chichewa 101.
The paper also talks about the impact that this indirect way of talking about sex might have on interventions aimed at eradicating HIV/AIDS in Malawi. The language used by college students to describe their ongoings was of particular interest to us at Chichewa 101.
Salimini's Chichewa
Andrew Goodson, published by Dr Paas in an appendix to his book on the 19th-century missionary Joahnnes Rebmann
This interesting article discusses the differences between the Chichewa of the Lilongwe region of the 1840s and the Chichewa of today.
Gender Relations in African-Language Literature: Interpretative Politics and Possibilities
Harri Englund, African Sociological Review, 8,1, pp.00-00. (2004)
| Gender Relations in Malawi, Eugland 2004 |
Semantic Classification and Chichewa Derived Nouns
Thokozani Kunkeyani, SOAS Working Papers in Linguistics Vol.15: 151-157 (2007)
| Semantic Classification, 2007.pdf |
Authority in Language: The Role of the Chichewa Board (1972 - 1995) in prescription and standardization of Chichewa
Pascal J. Kishindo, Journal of Asian and African Studies, No. 62, 2001
| The Chichewa Board, 2001 |
Recurrent Themes in Chichewa Verse in Malawian Newspapers
Pascal J. Kishindo, Nordic Journal of African Studies 12(3): 327-353 (2003)
| Chichewa Verse, 2003.pdf |
The Language Planning Situation in Malawi
Edrinnie Kayambazinthu, Department of English, Chancellor College (1998)
| Language Planning Situation in Malawi, 1998 |
Chewa Cultural Ideals and Systems of Thought as determined from Proverbs: A Preliminary Analysis
D.N. Kaphagawani and H.F. Chidammodzi (1988)
| Chewa Cultural Ideals, 1988 |
The Colonial Origins of Ethnic Cleavages:
The Case of Linguistic Divisions in Zambia
Daniel N. Posner, Prepared for LiCEP 3, Harvard University, 23-25 March (2001)
| Linguistic Divisions in Zambia, 2001 |
