A scholarly review of “Oshikwanyama Orthography 3” and the justification for the need for “Oshikwanyama Orthography 4”

Ekonakono lomoule “loshikwanyama omushangelo 3” neyelifo lediladilo “lomushangelo 4 woshikwanyama”

Autores/as

  • Edward Tangeni Shikesho University of Namibia
  • Petrus Angula Mbenzi Univeristy of Namibia

Palabras clave:

Orthography, consonants, vowels, conjunctive writing, disjunctive writing, Oshikwanyama.

Resumen

The current study examines the evolution and current state of Oshikwanyama orthography, focusing on the development and standardisation efforts in Namibia and Angola. It critically evaluates the existing "Oshikwanyama Orthography 3" to inform the development of the proposed "Oshikwanyama Orthography 4". The evaluation encompasses linguistic, educational, sociolinguistic, and political factors influencing orthography design. The research follows a posteriori approach, focusing on the merits and demerits of the current orthography ("Oshikwanyama Orthography 3"), revised in 2004 by the Oshikwanyama Curriculum Committee of the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED) in Okahandja, Namibia. Key considerations include the balance between linguistic soundness and sociopolitical acceptability, the selection of graphemes, word division, and the representation of phonological and suprasegmental features, such as tone. The study emphasises the importance of community involvement in establishing a strong orthography. The findings highlight the need for updates to address outdated lexical conventions, insufficient assimilation processes, and inconsistencies in representation. Recommendations propose the adoption of "Oshikwanyama Orthography 4" with immediate effect to unify standards across borders and enhance language preservation and development. The proposed "Oshikwanyama Orthography 4" will aim to standardise writing for academic, social, and cultural growth, facilitating improved communication and learning for native and non-native users. The paper also recommends that all linguistic varieties of Oshikwanyama be accommodated in the orthography, namely Oshimbadja, Oshikafima, Oshivale and Oshindombodola.

Descargas

Los datos de descargas todavía no están disponibles.

Biografía del autor/a

Edward Tangeni Shikesho, University of Namibia

is a lecturer at the University of Namibia. He teaches Oshikwanyama Language Education courses at the University's Khomasdal Campus, and Oral Literature of Oshiwambo at the Main Campus. He has written numerous books on the Oshikwanyama language and literature, as well as peer-reviewed academic articles. He also participates in radio programs focused on culture and youth, broadcast by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation.  Additionally, he has contributed several articles to The Namibian newspaper and  Omutumwa newspaper. His research interests include lexicography, linguistics, and Oshiwambo cultural practices.

Petrus Angula Mbenzi, Univeristy of Namibia

is a professor of Oshiwambo at the University of Namibia. He teaches  advanced Oshiwambo linguistics, orature, and beginner-level Oshiwambo courses.  He has authored several books, peer-reviewed articles, and book chapters on  Oshiwambo orature, culture, and linguistics. He also wrote a book on Oshiwambo totemism and several papers on Oshiwambo toponyms. He serves as an
ambassador for the annual Oshakati Totem Expo, is a regular presenter on oral  tradition for the Oshiwambo Radio Service, and contributes to the "Culture Corner"  on the Namibian Clubhouse. He has written numerous contributions for Omukwetu  newspaper, published by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia. His research  interests include lexicography, onomastics, orature, and linguistics.

Citas

Agbo, M. S. (2013). Orthography Theories and the Standard Igbo Orthography. Language in India, 13(4), 1-15. Retrieved from http://www.languageinindia.com

Anglican Church of Southern Africa. (1975). Kwanyama Hymn Book. Paarl Media

Bleek, W. H. I. (1862). A Comparative Grammar of South African Languages. Part I. Phonology. Triibner & Co.

Brincker, P. M. (1891). Lehrbuch des Oshikuanjama. W. Spemann.

Cahill, M., & Karan, E. (2008). Factors in designing effective orthographies for unwritten languages. SIL International.

Cahill, M., & Rice, K. (eds) (2014). Developing Orthographies for Unwritten Languages. SIL International.

Cole, D. T. (1975). An introduction to Tswana grammar. Longman Penguin.

Fourie, D.J. (1992). Oshiwambo: Past, Present and Future. The Academy

Halme, R. (2004). A tonal grammar of Kwanyama. Rudiger Koppe Verlag.

Hasheela, P. (1981). Oshikwanyama Shetu. Gamsberg MacmillanPublishers.

Hasheela, P. (2007). Oshikwanyamenena Shipe. Gamsberg Macmillan Publishers.

Jones, M. C., & Mooney, D. (eds.) (2020). Creating orthographies for endangered languages. Cambridge University Press, Paperback edition, 333 p.

Legere, K. (1998) (ed.). Crossborder languages. Reports and Studies. Regional Workshop. Cross Border Languages, NIED, Okahandja. 23–27 September 1996. Gamsberg Macmillan.

Mbenzi, P. (2021). Ando okwa li ihe to shanga opo waa dhimbwe. Microwide Publishing Press.

Ndanyakukwa, C. (2016). Dicionário de nomes em Oshikwanyama. Mayamba Editora.

Ngodji, M. (2004). The history of the bible among Ovakwanyama: The agency of Indigenous Translators (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). University of KwaZulu- Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Oshikwanyama Curriculum Committee. (2004). Oshikwanyama Omushangelo 3/Orthography 3. Gamsberg Macmillan Publishers.

Oshikwanyama Curriculum Committee. (2019). Oshikwanyama-English/English- Oshikwanyama Dictionary. Namibia Publishing House.

Shifidi, L. N. (2014). Integration of translanguaging in lessons: An approach to teaching and learning in Namibian junior secondary schools (Unpublished Master ‘s Thesis), Hedmark University College, Norway.

Shikesho, E. (2019). A critical evaluation of English-Kwanyama Dictionary (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.

Shikesho, E. (2021). An investigation into the formulation of a model for compiling an English- Oshikwanyama dictionary for secondary school learners (Unpublished Doctoral thesis). University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Shikesho, E. T. (2021). Towards a common Oshikwanyama official orthography for Namibia and Angola: The way forward on the conjunctive and disjunctive writing systems of Oshikwanyama. JULACE: Journal of the University of Namibia Language Centre, 5(2), 1–11.

Shikesho, E. T., & Joseph, E. (2020). Oshiholekwa shokushanga onomola (4) mOshikwanyama she uya kombada. JULACE: Journal of the University of Namibia Language Centre, 5(1), 25–36.

Smalley, W. (Ed.). (1964). Orthography Studies: Articles on New Writing Systems (Vol. 6). United Bible Societies.

Tirronen, E. T. (1977). Oshigwana hashi lesha. ELOK Printing Press.

Tobias, G.W.R., & Turvey, B.H.C. (1954). English-Kwanyama dictionary. Witwatersrand University Press.

Tönjes, H. (1910). Lehrbuch Der Ovambo-sprache, Osikuanjama. Berlin: De Gruyter.

Turvey, B. H. C. (Zimmermann, W. & Taapopi, G. (eds.). (1977). Kwanyama-English Dictionary. Witwatersrand University Press.

Van Dyken, J. R., & Lojenga, C. K. (1993). Word boundaries: Key factors in orthography development. In: Rhonda L. Hartell (ed.), Alphabets of Africa. UNESCO-Dakar Regional Office and Summer Institute of Linguistics, 3–20.

Williamson, K. (1984). Practical Orthography in Nigeria. Heinemann Educational Books.

Winer, L. (1990). Orthographic standardization for Trinidad and Tobago: Linguistic and sociopolitical considerations in an English Creole community. Language Problems and Language Planning, 14(3), 237-268.

Zimmermann, W. & Hasheela, P. (1998). Oshikwanyama Grammar. Macmillan Education Namibia.

Descargas

Publicado

06-08-2025

Cómo citar

Shikesho, E. T. ., & Mbenzi, P. A. (2025). A scholarly review of “Oshikwanyama Orthography 3” and the justification for the need for “Oshikwanyama Orthography 4”: Ekonakono lomoule “loshikwanyama omushangelo 3” neyelifo lediladilo “lomushangelo 4 woshikwanyama”. NJINGA&SEPÉ: evista nternacional e ulturas, Línguas fricanas rasileiras, 5(Especial II), 154–170. ecuperado a partir de https://revistas.unilab.edu.br/njingaesape/article/view/2227

Número

Vol. 5 Núm. Especial II (2025): A cultura e as literaturas em línguas africanas: estudos e pesquisas/Culture and literature in African languages: studies and research_ Parte II

Sección

Seção I - Artigos inéditos e traduções/interpretações

Licencia

Derechos de autor 2025 NJINGA&SEPÉ: Revista Internacional de Culturas, Línguas Africanas e Brasileiras

Creative Commons License

Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 4.0.

Los autores que publican en esta revista aceptan los siguientes términos:

Los autores mantienen los derechos de autor y otorgan a la revista el derecho a la primera publicación, siendo el trabajo simultáneamente licenciado bajo la Licencia de Atribución Creative Commons, que permite compartir el trabajo con reconocimiento de la autoría del trabajo y la publicación inicial en esta revista.

Se autoriza a los autores a asumir contratos adicionales por separado, para la distribución no exclusiva de la versión del trabajo publicado en esta revista (p. Ej., Publicación en repositorio institucional o como capítulo de libro), con reconocimiento de autoría y publicación inicial en esta revista.

Se permite y se anima a los autores a publicar y distribuir su trabajo en línea (por ejemplo, en repositorios institucionales o en su página personal) en cualquier momento antes o durante el proceso editorial, ya que esto puede generar cambios productivos, así como aumentar el impacto y cita del trabajo publicado (Ver El efecto del acceso abierto).