- For the Site, see Ling: Learn Swahili.
- Available both on the browser and as an iPhone App.
- I've found the initial page-load to be a bit slow in the browser (at least using Chrome), so anyone clicking the above link may need to be somewhat patient.
- Ling Introduction:
- When it comes to learning a new language, Swahili is not usually on the top of many peoples list. However, Swahili is the official language for 5 different countries and even more intercontinental groups in Africa. As well as expanding your horizon, Swahili also gives you an insight into a culture thousands of years old, which is why many people have started taking an interest in the language.
- Swahili is more of a language for a region and ethnic group than for specific countries. While being native to several countries in Eastern Africa region, it shares a lot of vocabulary with the Arabic language. It belongs to the Niger-Congo family group and estimates put the number of native speakers at up to 150 million. When written, both the Latin Alphabet or the Arabic script can be used.
- The grammar of the language is very similar to other Bantu languages. The word order is SVO, where the subject comes first, followed by the verb and then the object. Instead of a grammatical gender, Swahili has different noun classes that determine the prefix used. There are no articles used as this is usually determined based on the context. It is worth noting that written Swahili is very closely related to how it is spoken, making it easier to learn. ever.
- Swahili is a very unique language. It is very different compared to many other languages but still has a significant number of speakers for you to communicate with. If you want to learn more about Africa or plan to travel across the continent, learning Swahili is a very good idea. Otherwise, those looking to expand their skills will also greatly benefit.
Text Colour Conventions (see disclaimer)
- Blue: Text by me; © Theo Todman, 2024
- Mauve: Text by correspondent(s) or other author(s); © the author(s)