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The Syntax-Phonology Interface and Phrasing in Cisukwa, Cindali and Cilambya Relative Prosodic Clauses
Get PDFThis paper is a descriptive analysis of the prosodic structure of relative clauses in relation to various syntactic structures in Cindali, Cisukwa and Cilambya - a cluster of related varieties spoken in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. The analysis in this paper is for the varieties spoken in Northern Malawi particularly in Chitipa district. The paper sought to answer the following questions: i) What is the prosodic structure of relative clauses of Cisukwa, Cindali and Cilambya? ii) What is the relationship between phonological phrasing of relative clauses and syntax.
The paper argues that the prosodic phrasing of Cisukwa, Cindali and Cilambya is determined by syntactic structure. This is similar to what has been observed in several other Bantu languages. The paper notes that restrictive clauses are right-bounded by a prosodic break and XPs serving as heads of relative clauses, whether as subjects, objects (both direct and indirect), or other adjuncts are normally phrased together with the relative clause.
 
THE LANGUAGES OF RIVERS STATE OF NIGERIA: AN OVERVIEW
Get PDFThis paper provides an updated overview of the languages of Rivers State of Nigeria in respect of the number, linguistic classification and features of the languages, as well as the distribution of the languages across the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. This is because the existing overviews contain little or no data on the linguistic features of the languages. It notes that Rivers State is a multilingual state in which 28 native or indigenous languages are spoken, and that the languages fall into two major sub-families (Benue-Congo and Ijoid) within the Niger-Congo phylum. With relevant data, the paper highlights and illustrates some of the interesting linguistic characteristics of the languages, which include advanced tongue root vowel harmony, noun classification via noun prefixes and noun classifiers, inclusive-exclusive distinction in personal pronouns, sex gender, verbal extensions, serial verb constructions and subject and/or object agreement marking. Furthermore, the paper considers the distribution of Rivers State languages and notes that the languages are not evenly distributed across the LGAs, and that many indigenous people of the state are bilingual or multilingual in the languages of the state. Finally, the paper notes that despite the enabling national and state policies and laws favouring mother-tongue education, Rivers State languages have not actively been used at the levels stipulated by the policies and laws. It recommends the enforcement and implementation of existing laws and policies so that the indigenous languages of the state are used at the levels stipulated by the National Policy on Education for the benefit of the citizens, state and country
UNCANNY MIMESIS: SHAKESPEARE AND BOTSWANA POLITICS IN 2014
Get PDFShakespeare’s influence cannot be confined by subject, theme, spatial and/or temporal setting. His works transcend disciplines and geographical identity. He is a linguist; psychiatrist; political, social and economic commentator; and ecologist. Three thousand new words and phrases all first appeared in print in Shakespeare’s plays. Through Shylock’s resolve on three thousand ducats repayment, readers of The Merchant of Venice learn about the dangers of a cash nexus on human relations. The major tragedies and tragicomedies impart knowledge about politics at both national and family levels. Each of Julius Caesar, Macbeth, King Lear, Othello and Romeo and Juliet, touches on the important aspect of power dynamics in the private and public spheres. In view of the foregoing, this article considers some of the major political events in the build-up to the 2014 Botswana general elections and compares them to the political intrigue in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The study attempts a critical examination of the uncanny congruence between Julius Caesar’s experience and that of Gomolemo Motswaledi within their respective milieux. The discussion contends that there is some symbiotic relationship between literature and society worthy of reflection. Literature seems to feed from the society as much as it (literature) “is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life”, as John Milton puts in it Areopagitica (Stephen and Jonathan, 1991, p. 240)
An Assessment of the Legal Framework Pertaining to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace in Botswana
Get PDFThis is a review of the law protecting employees against sexual harassment at the workplace in Botswana. It is noted that only public servants are assured of some protection under the Public Service Act of 1998. Employees in the private sector, not covered by this Act, are not directly protected under any other employment-related statutes. This notwithstanding, sexual harassment at a workplace could conceivably be an infringement of an employee’s human rights, guaranteed under sections 3 and 15 and section 7 of the Botswana constitution. Sections 3 and 15 entitle every individual to protection against discrimination, and section 7 assures everyone of protection from inhuman and degrading treatment. If human rights under the Botswana Constitution, as under the South African Constitution, must be observed by both public and private entities, there would be considerable scope for protection of employees in the private sector against sexual harassment at the work place through constitutional litigation. It is contended, however, that there is a need to enhance protection of workers at all workplaces against sexual harassment through the inclusion of sexual harassment provisions in the Employment Act
Historicising Japan-Africa relations
Get PDFThis article was motivated by the rising influence of Japan in Africa’s development affairs. Most studies on Japan-Africa relations, which flourished after Japan introduced the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in 1993, do not adequately historicise the relations between the two. With few exceptions, they uncritically treat Japan as a new or late comer in Africa compared to other global powers. In contrast, this article argues that the Japanese contact with Africa and Africans probably predates the accidental landing of the Portuguese traders on the Japanese shores in 1542/43. Importantly, after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the Japanese government, politicians and intellectuals started showing great interest in Africa. During the Scramble for Africa by European powers, influential Japanese intellectuals encouraged their government to take part too, but this advice was not heeded. The Japanese also showed keen interest in Africa during the British-Zulu war of 1879, the South African war of 1899, the Italo-Ethiopian conflicts of 1895/96 and 1935/36, and at the Bandung Conference in 1955. Like the Chinese, the Japanese have an age-old interest in Africa
AN ASSESSMENT OF LITERATURE ON THE EXTRACTION OF MULTIWORD EXPRESSIONS: FOCUS ON PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
Get PDFMultiword expressions are difficult to deal with. The difficulty in handling them ranges from definition to classification. Researchers in the areas of Natural Language Processing and Computational Linguistics have neither provided a universal definition of what multiword expressions are, nor have they clearly classified multiword expressions. The focus of this paper is not to provide a generally acceptable definition, nor a clear classification of multiword expressions. Rather, the paper provides a pathway of approaching multiword expressions in linguistic research, especially through their extraction. Through extensive literature review, we argue that multiword expressions can be dealt with statistically or linguistically. This paper concludes that whereas some researchers have argued for the use of statistics-based methods, others have adhered to linguistic approaches. However, this study does not argue that these two approaches to MWE extraction have not been used concurrently. There are some studies that have used a hybrid approach. Therefore, there is no simple and best method in the extraction of MWEs in a corpus. A study uses a specific approach according to its overall objective. Whatever approach in handling multiword expression is adopted, the overriding objective must be add pedagogical value to extracted multiword expressions
The spatial variation of the regeneration structure of riparian tree species in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Get PDFRiparian woodlands in the Okavango Delta play a significant role in the hydrological cycle, directly and indirectly. Despite their ecological importance, very little is known about their regeneration status in the Okavango Delta. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial variation in the regeneration structure of different riparian tree species in the Okavango Delta. The sampling sites were Seronga, Boro, Moremi Game reserve, Santawani and Vumbura. These species were Croton megalobotrys Müll. Arg, Philenoptera violacea (Klotzsch) Schrire, Senegalia nigrescens Oliv and Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A. Dc. The height of individual trees was measured in randomly selected plots of 20m × 50m. Individuals were assigned to 0-0.5m, 0.6-1m, 1.1-2m, 2.1-4m and >4m regeneration classes. A total of 75 plots were sampled at intervals between February 2012 and April 2013. Linear regression was used to infer the regeneration status of each species. One way ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc analysis were used to compare the seedling density/ha and sapling density/ha of different species across different sites. Philenoptera violacea showed a similar regeneration structure of reverse J shaped regeneration across all the sites. D. mespiliformis showed a reverse J shaped regeneration structure in Vumbura, Moremi and Boro while in Seronga it showed a U shaped regeneration structure. Croton megalobotrys showed U shaped regeneration structure in Santawani and Boro, a J shaped pattern in Vumbura and Moremi while in Seronga it exhibited an irregular structure. S. nigrescens showed a reverse J shaped regeneration structure in Vumbura and a J shaped structure in Moremi and Seronga. In Santawani it had a U shaped structure. Seedling and sapling density/ha for each species varied significantly (p<0.05) among some sites. However, the sapling density of D. mespiliformis did not differ significantly among the sites. These results indicate that there is variation in the regeneration structure of different species in different sites. This calls for further research on the environmental factors that influence the regeneration of the woodland species in the Okavango Delta
Local communities’ quality of life and support for tourism development: A structural equation analysis
Get PDFThis study investigates the relationship between the people’s quality of life and support for tourism in Maun, Botswana. Data were collected from 394 residents in Maun through face-to-face survey interviews. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with AMOS 16.0 software. The study found a positive relationship between people’s quality of life and support for tourism. The results support the conceptual theory of the study which is the social exchange theory. The study therefore concludes that the more the communities perceive their quality of life being improved due to tourism development, the more they would support the development of tourism in their community. The implication of this study is that the sustainability of tourism in Maun is highly dependent on the improved quality of life of members of local communities
Assessment of arable farmers’ understanding of scientific weather forecasts in Ngamiland East, Botswana
Get PDFScientific weather forecasts provide early warning information that is essential for arable farmers to adapt to climate variability and change. However, the use of forecasts by farmers is limited by their lack of understanding of forecasts. This study assesses arable farmers’ understanding of the various aspects of seasonal weather forecasts in Ngamiland East, Botswana, to identify those aspects which they do not understand. The study also suggests improvements that can be made on the forecasts to make it easier for farmers to understand them and be able to use them for their benefit. It also assesses arable farmers’ strategies of adaptation to climate variability and change. The study utilised face to face interviews to collect qualitative data using semi-structured questionnaires. From the results, 28% of the farmers reported that they did not use the forecasts in their decisions making about planting, mainly because they did not understand them. The challenge for nearly a quarter (22.5%) of those who did not use the forecasts was the spatial scale aspect of the forecasts. More than one third of the farmers (35%) suggested that to improve the forecasts, the forecasts should be downscaled to their local area scale. Based on these findings, it is essential to improve the forecasts to make them easier to understand so that even farmers with low educational levels can also use them