News
28/07/2020
Dictionary Kinyarwanda – German with Introduction to Language and Grammar
This is the first Rwandan-German dictionary with phonetic notation of vowel tones. It represents classical Kinyarwanda – the national language of Rwanda, as it has been orally transmitted for over 500 years and recorded in writing from the beginning of the 20th century. The word list also contains numerous modern terms from science, technology, economics, politics, society and medicine. The fauna and many prominent plants of Rwanda are represented with scientific names.
Today Kinyarwanda is generally not phonetically notated. But for clear recognition of word roots, for a better understanding of verb conjugation, as well as for (approximately) correct pronunciation, the distinction of high and low, short and long as well as variable vowel tones is essential. These tones are consistently given here in official scientific notation.
Part I contains table of contents, preface and instructions for using the dictionary as well as the bibliography. Part II gives an introduction to language and grammar (with reading texts and tables), primarily aimed at German speakers who want to learn the Kinyarwanda language and translate original texts. The grammar introduces the system of (here 19) word classes characteristic of Bantu languages and the very complex conjugation of verbs (with 32 conjugation tables). A series of reading texts from various genres, from fable and poetry through narratives to today’s technical official language, with sources from the 19th to the 21st century, gives the reader the opportunity to practice translating and to follow the development of the language. Part III contains the lexical word list Kinyarwanda – German. It comprises a total of over 40,000 word and concept pairs along with common phrases; of these, there are more than 22,000 different entries in Kinyarwanda. Foreign and loan words are explained by giving the original terms (in French, English, and German). Four symbols identify terms from special semantic areas: for animals, ❀ for plants, ✐ for writing and language, as well as ⚕ for medical terms (body parts, diseases etc., partly with scientific names). Medicinal plants are also marked by the medicine symbol ⚕ (possibly with indication of known possible uses).
An insight into the dictionary is available HERE .
The dictionary German – Kinyarwanda is in preparation and should appear in a separate volume.
2020, 396 pp., numerous tables and overviews, paperback, format 19 x 24 cm, ISBN 978-3-89645-587-1, € 49.80
Target group: Africanists / Bantuists, linguists, Rwanda visitors, interested Rwandans
Copies of the dictionary can be ordered directly from the publisher
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
info@koeppe.de // www.koeppe.de
Today Kinyarwanda is generally not phonetically notated. But for clear recognition of word roots, for a better understanding of verb conjugation, as well as for (approximately) correct pronunciation, the distinction of high and low, short and long as well as variable vowel tones is essential. These tones are consistently given here in official scientific notation.
Part I contains table of contents, preface and instructions for using the dictionary as well as the bibliography. Part II gives an introduction to language and grammar (with reading texts and tables), primarily aimed at German speakers who want to learn the Kinyarwanda language and translate original texts. The grammar introduces the system of (here 19) word classes characteristic of Bantu languages and the very complex conjugation of verbs (with 32 conjugation tables). A series of reading texts from various genres, from fable and poetry through narratives to today’s technical official language, with sources from the 19th to the 21st century, gives the reader the opportunity to practice translating and to follow the development of the language. Part III contains the lexical word list Kinyarwanda – German. It comprises a total of over 40,000 word and concept pairs along with common phrases; of these, there are more than 22,000 different entries in Kinyarwanda. Foreign and loan words are explained by giving the original terms (in French, English, and German). Four symbols identify terms from special semantic areas: for animals, ❀ for plants, ✐ for writing and language, as well as ⚕ for medical terms (body parts, diseases etc., partly with scientific names). Medicinal plants are also marked by the medicine symbol ⚕ (possibly with indication of known possible uses).
An insight into the dictionary is available HERE .
The dictionary German – Kinyarwanda is in preparation and should appear in a separate volume.
2020, 396 pp., numerous tables and overviews, paperback, format 19 x 24 cm, ISBN 978-3-89645-587-1, € 49.80
Target group: Africanists / Bantuists, linguists, Rwanda visitors, interested Rwandans
Copies of the dictionary can be ordered directly from the publisher
Rüdiger Köppe Verlag
info@koeppe.de // www.koeppe.de
