The role of redundancy and default rules in Chiyao phonology

No Abstract

Tone in Malawian Tonga verbs

No Abstract

Aspects of the phonology of Sukwa: an optimality theoretic analysis

Phonological studies of Bantu languages have continued to be an area of investigation for many scholars over the years. These studies have discussed the language's sound patterns syllable structures, phonological processes and suprasegmental features and have based their analyses on various theories of phonology

Building ways and dreams: remembering Prof. David Rubadiri

This article focuses on the legacy that Prof. David Rubadiri left behind through his poetry and through his passion for mentoring young artistic minds. Through various recollections of my interations with the late professor, I reflect on Rubadiri’s positive influence on my academic and literary journeys. The article reads the impact that Rubadri’s life had on my life through the evocation of powerful quotations from other writers, which aptly sum up Rubadiri’s legacy as a writer, freedom fighter, humanitarian and mentor who touched many people’s lives in profound ways. Through the article, I show the humility, selflessness, generosity, kindness, passion and intellectual curiosity that characterised Rubadiri’s life.Keywords: Rubadiri, mentorship, generosity, teacher, intellectua

A comparative analysis of the nominal class marking systems of Cisukwa, Cindali and Cilambya

This paper compares the nominal class marking systems of Cisukwa (M202), Cindali (M301) and Cilambya (M201B) - Bantu languages spoken in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia which have been collectively labelled SuNdaLa in this paper. The paper focused on the Malawi varieties and aimed to analyse the similarities and microvariation exhibited in these closely related languages. The paper couched its focus on the following questions: i) What are the similarities of the nominal class marking systems of SuNdaLa? ii) How is variation exhibited in their noun classes? iii) What factors account for the variations in SuNdaLa? The paper used Guérois, Gibson, Everdium and Marten (2017) parameters to answer the questions raised by the paper but also to test their validity on closely related varieties. The paper demonstrates that the SuNdaLa varieties share similarities on a lot of values, particularly that they have V shaped augments, use the class 5 prefix -li- which alternates with zero. They also have 19 noun classes, express diminutive and augmentative meaning through noun classes and nouns take locative and infinitive prefixes. However, these parameters fail to capture micro-variation of minute details exhibited within the varieties. The paper argues that there is need to refine the parameters by adding sub-parameters that address these issues. It shows how closely related languages exhibit variation and how the variation provides indications of the direction and nature of language change in the nominal class marking systems. The paper concludes that although there are minute variations in the nominal class marking systems of SuNdaLa, their similarities are indeed indications that the varieties are on a dialect continuum.Keywords: noun, noun class, variation, prefix, augment, pairin

Learning the Art of Negotiation: Reflections on the Global Negotiation Program at the University of Tsukuba

This short note gives an overview and evaluation of the interdisciplinary Postgraduate Certificate Program in Global Negotiation at the University of Tsukuba. The curriculum offers a wide variety and choice of courses that are relevant and appeal to a broad spectrum of students from all disciplines in the University. 要旨 本稿は筑波大学が実施する履修証明教育プログラム、国際交渉力強化プログラム(GNP)を紹介する。このプログラムは新しい異分野融合型教育を特徴とし、様々な研究分野を専門とする大学院生から成り立つ

The acquisition of syntactic tone: The case of Chichewa negation

No Abstract

Oral traditions among the northern Malawi Ngoni

No Abstract

African Linguistics in Central and Eastern Europe, and in the Nordic Countries

Non peer reviewe

A facility and community-based assessment of scabies in rural Malawi.

Background Scabies is a neglected tropical disease of the skin, causing severe itching, stigmatizing skin lesions and systemic complications. Since 2015, the DerMalawi project provide an integrated skin diseases clinics and Tele-dermatology care in Malawi. Clinic based data suggested a progressive increase in scabies cases observed. To better identify and treat individuals with scabies in the region, we shifted from a clinic-based model to a community based outreach programme. Methodology/principal findings From May 2015, DerMalawi project provide integrated skin diseases and Tele-dermatological care in the Nkhotakota and Salima health districts in Malawi. Demographic and clinical data of all patients personally attended are recorded. Due to a progressive increase in the number of cases of scabies the project shifted to a community-based outreach programme. For the community outreach activities, we conducted three visits between 2018 to 2019 and undertook screening in schools and villages of Alinafe Hospital catchment area. Treatment was offered for all the cases and school or household contacts. Scabies increased from 2.9% to 39.2% of all cases seen by the DerMalawi project at clinics between 2015 to 2018. During the community-based activities approximately 50% of the population was assessed in each of three visits. The prevalence of scabies was similar in the first two rounds, 15.4% (2392) at the first visit and 17.2% at the second visit. The prevalence of scabies appeared to be lower (2.4%) at the third visit. The prevalence of impetigo appeared unchanged and was 6.7% at the first visit and 5.2% at the final visit. Conclusions/significance Prevalence of scabies in our setting was very high suggesting that scabies is a major public health problem in parts of Malawi. Further work is required to more accurately assess the burden of disease and develop appropriate public health strategies for its control