New Runyankore-English dictionary out
Dec 09, 2008
WITH more children in rural areas joining school under the Universal Primary Education programme, production of study materials in local languages has become popular.
BY E. SSEJJENGO
WITH more children in rural areas joining school under the Universal Primary Education programme, production of study materials in local languages has become popular.
But after so many children’s books (especially by Fountain Publishers and MK Publishers), novels, short story anthologies and translations; the trend is now shifting towards dictionary publishing.
After Dr. Kiigi Kiggi’s Luganda language dictionary published earlier this year, now comes its Runyankore- English counterpart.
The Orunyankore omu Rungyezera dictionary by Dr. Esau Nzaro was launched by the First Lady Janet Museveni on Monday at Protea Hotel in Kampala.
The dictionary is a translation of Runyakore into English. “This dictionary is simple. It targets young readers and even adults who may be conversant in one language and not the other,†said Nzaro at a press conference recently. However, the author refuses to call this a dictionary. “It should not be called a dictionary because it lacks some of the details,†he explains. Runyakore is a tonal language and most of the words have prefixes like “o†or “aâ€. That is why Nzaro has not arranged the words in alphabetical order.
Runyakore is a tonal language, and many Bantu speakers will find pronunciation easy. Nzaro has not bothered with any phonetic details. He just goes on to give a word’s equivalent in English.
“Many people are now being born and are living in exile. For a Munyakore, Kampala is an exile,†reasons the 64-year-old writer.
With the cultural revival sweeping across the country, this dictionary comes as a saving grace. It is a good buy for any public speaker.
For Nzaro, this is a result of his experience with his children and many others. “My children and grandchildren are Ankole exiles and need such work to come back home. Some like Carol (wife to businessman Patrick Bitature) are public figures who need this information,†Nzaro adds.
The function was attended by the literati, members of the publishing and business fraternity.
WITH more children in rural areas joining school under the Universal Primary Education programme, production of study materials in local languages has become popular.
But after so many children’s books (especially by Fountain Publishers and MK Publishers), novels, short story anthologies and translations; the trend is now shifting towards dictionary publishing.
After Dr. Kiigi Kiggi’s Luganda language dictionary published earlier this year, now comes its Runyankore- English counterpart.
The Orunyankore omu Rungyezera dictionary by Dr. Esau Nzaro was launched by the First Lady Janet Museveni on Monday at Protea Hotel in Kampala.
The dictionary is a translation of Runyakore into English. “This dictionary is simple. It targets young readers and even adults who may be conversant in one language and not the other,†said Nzaro at a press conference recently. However, the author refuses to call this a dictionary. “It should not be called a dictionary because it lacks some of the details,†he explains. Runyakore is a tonal language and most of the words have prefixes like “o†or “aâ€. That is why Nzaro has not arranged the words in alphabetical order.
Runyakore is a tonal language, and many Bantu speakers will find pronunciation easy. Nzaro has not bothered with any phonetic details. He just goes on to give a word’s equivalent in English.
“Many people are now being born and are living in exile. For a Munyakore, Kampala is an exile,†reasons the 64-year-old writer.
With the cultural revival sweeping across the country, this dictionary comes as a saving grace. It is a good buy for any public speaker.
For Nzaro, this is a result of his experience with his children and many others. “My children and grandchildren are Ankole exiles and need such work to come back home. Some like Carol (wife to businessman Patrick Bitature) are public figures who need this information,†Nzaro adds.
The function was attended by the literati, members of the publishing and business fraternity.