MODERN SWAHILI GRAMMAR

The -Kl- and -SIPO- tenses

Conditional use

When the subject prefix precedes the -Kl- tense and the verb
stem follows it, grammarians point out that the concept of
conditional use is implied. We can classify this conditional use
as real because there is still the possibility of an action taking
place at some point in the future. Some grammars argue that
the -Kl- tense gives the sense of "if" and "when", and all these
are considered to have referential meanings. For example:

a. Ukifika kesho, nitakupa pesa zako.

If you arrive tomorrow, I will give you your money.

b. Mvua ikinyesha jioni, sitatoka nje.

If it rains in the afternoon, I will not go out.

The conditional use of the -Kl- tense can be made more

emphatic by the addition of kama, meaning "if" or "whether".
For example:

a. Kama akipika wali, atatuambia.

If he/she cooks rice, he/she will tell us.

b. Kama ukimuuliza maswali mwalimu, atahamaki.

If you ask the teacher some questions, he will get angry.

For other noun classes, subject prefixes preceding the -Kl- tense
will change according to the noun class of a word. Following are
some
examples:

M-Ml class u-ki-anguka ukianguka if it falls.

i-ki-anguka ikianguka if they fall.

KI-VI class

ki-ki-anguka kikianguka if it falls.

vi-ki-anguka vikianguka if they fall.

JI-MA class

li-ki-anguka likianguka if it falls.

ya-ki-anguka yakianguka if they fall.

N-N class

i-ki-anguka ikianguka if it falls.

zi-ki-anguka zikianguka if they fall.

Tenses - III

U-U class

u-ki-anguka ukianguka if it falls,

zi-ki-anguka zikianguka if they fall.

Like other kinds of verbs, monosyllabic verbs drop their
infinitive, thus avoiding the KU- stress-carrier. For example:

ni-ki-la nikila if I eat.

u-ki-la ukila if you eat.

a-ki-la akila if he/she eats.

tu-ki-la tukila if we eat.

Conditional sentences in Swahili are also introduced by other

markers, mainly ikiwa and iwapo, all meaning "if" and thus
implying some degree of uncertainty or doubt. For example:

a. Iwapo Juma atakuja leo, nitakuarifu.

If Juma arrives today, I will inform you.

b. Ikiwa atafanya kelele darasani, mwalimu wake atampiga. If

he/she makes noise in class, his/her teacher will beat her.

Present participle function

When the -ki- tense occurs in a compound verbal construction,

grammars describe it as functioning as a participle. Ashton
(1982) points out that the tense marker conveys the idea of
imperfect, continuous or incomplete action. For example:

a. Tuliwaona vijana wakiimba.

We saw the youths singing.

b. Nilimwona baba akilala.

I saw father sleeping.

Zawaioi (1971) argues that the -KI- marker seems to be neutral

with respect to time or action point. She adds that when -KI-
occurs in a compound verb, its meaning of "in the event of"
resembles that of -na-, "unended action". But when -KI- occurs
in a simple verb, its referential meaning is equivalent to that of
"if" or "when", which -na- does not possess.

Brain (1977), like other grammars, points out that it is possible

in Swahili to use both forms of -KI-. For example:

a. Ukimwona akiruka, mzuie.

If you see him/her jumping, hold him/her.

MODERN SWAHILI GRAMMAR

b. Ukimwona akicheza, mpige.

If you see him/her playing, beat him/her.

Although the above sentences are grammatically correct, they

are less common among native speakers of Swahili. More
common is the use of the present tense -na- in the second or
subsequent verbs. For example:

a. Ukimwona anaruka, mzuie.

If you see him/her jumping, hold him/her.

b. Ukimwona anacheza, mpige.

If you see him/her playing, beat him/her.

Past and future imperfect

The -KI- marker, in its function as a particle, can be used with
the auxiliary KUWA (to be) to produce a compound verbal
construction denoting the sense of continuity. For example:

a. Nilikuwa nikipika kutwa nzima.

I was cooking the whole day.

b. Nitakuwa nikipika kutwa nzima.

I will be cooking the whole day.

c. Nimekuwa nikipika kutwa nzima.

I have been cooking the whole day.

Negative conditional tense

There are two different ways of negating the -KI- conditional

tense, which in English would be interpreted as "if not" or
"unless".

1. By using the word kama and the present negative:

a. Kama hupiki chakula, mama yako atakasirika.

If you don't cook the food, your mother will get angry.

b. Kama haendi sokoni, mimi nitamfukuza kazini.

If he does not go to the market, I will dismiss him from work.

2. By using the negative participle -sipo- preceded by a

positive or an affirmative subject prefix:

a. Usipopika chakula, mama yako atakasirika.

If you don't cook the food, your mother will get angry.

b. Asipoenda sokoni, mimi nitamfukuza kazini.

If he doesn't go to the market, I will dismiss him from work.

Tenses - III

But with monosyllabic verbs, the infinitive KU- is retained so as

to give stress to the verb stem:

a. Usipokuja kesho, mwalimu wako atakuadhibu.

If you do not come tomorrow, your teacher will punish you.

b. Asipokunywa maziwa, mtoto ataanza kulia.

If she does not drink the milk, the baby will start crying.

VOCABULARY

karafuu cloves kwa hadhari carefully

tunza reward rithi inherit

jiunga join kokota pull

fasiri translate jitahidi work hard

ajali accident angamia perish

adhibu punish vibaya severely

sifu praise shiriki participate

funga fast anika dry

neemeka prosper rejea return

kifungu cha habari mahari dowry

passage hatamaki
Exercise 14f

1. Translate the following sentences:

a. If you go to Zanzibar, you will see cloves.

b. If it doesn't rain heavily today, I will go out.

c. If Ominde comes tomorrow, I will give him the eggs.

**d. If the lady sings well, I will reward her.

**e. If his father dies, he will inherit a lot of money.

f. We saw our students pulling a cart.

g. She will be writing a letter tomorrow morning.

h. If he joins the university, he will work hard.

**i. If you do not go to school on Monday, the headmaster will

be angry.

j. If I do not translate the article, who will do it?

k. We saw the old man fetching water from the well.

l. If they see the coconut tree falling, they will run away.

m. If you buy those flowers, you will like them.

n. If he drives the car very fast, he will have an accident.

MODERN SWAHILI GRAMMAR

0. If the accused does not speak the truth, the judge will
punish him severely.

p. If you obey old people, they will like you.

q. If Fatuma goes there, they will receive her.

r. Unless she comes early, she will not finish the job.

s. They saw us returning from town.

t. If you look carefully, you will see the cats running away.

2. Translate the following sentences:

a. Ukilima vizuri, utavuna vizuri.

b. Usipomsaidia mdogo wako, baba atasikitika.

c. Nikisafiri kesho, nitakuarifu tu.

d. Tuliona jirani zenu wakienda mazikoni.

e. Atakuwa akiningoja nyumbani.

f. Kama akijifunza Kiswahili sasa, mwalimu atafurahi.

g. Akishiriki katika kujenga taifa, chama kitamsifu.

h. Asiponiandikia barua ndugu yako, nitamlaumu sana.

1. Mama yako amekuwa akikupenda sana.

j. Nikimsikia kijana yule akilia, nitampiga.

k. Likitoka jua leo, nitaanika nguo zangu.

l. Mwezi ukiandama kesho, Waislamu nchini watafunga.

m. Ukitoka nje, funga mlango.

n. Msichana yule akiolewa, mwanamume atatoa mahari.

o. Maendeleo yakipatikana nchini, wananchi wataneemeka.

p. Ukiingia ndani, piga hodi kwanza.

q. Wanajeshi wakirejea kambini, wataanza kwenda gwaride.

r. Vita vya Dunia vikitokea, watu wengi wataangamia.

s. Akisoma kitabu, anasoma kwa makelele.

t. Ukimwona daktari wako, mpe salamu zangu.

3. Complete the following constructions:

a. Mzee akiamka

b. Ukiwaza sana

c. Usipofanya kazi yako kwa bidii

d. Nikiwa waziri wa elimu

e. Akitukodisha nyumba yake

f. Mgema akisifiwa

g. Ukimwona akiiba kuku wangu

h. Usipoendesha gari kwa hadhari

i. Nikizuru nchi za Ulaya

j. Akikutukana tena

Tenses - 111

k. Rais akiwasili kwenye maonyesho

l. Ukimwona nyoka njiani

m. Aibu ikikupata

n. Mkijifunza Kiswahili kwa juhudi

o. Usipolala mapema

p. Tukiwaona wakulima wanachunga wan yam a

q. Ukiwaona wakichezacheza njiani

r. Mjomba akikupa mzigo wangu

s. Paka akiondoka

t. Ukame ukitokea nchini

The -KA- Tense

The -KA- tense has generally been associated with the notion of
consecutiveness. Steere (1976), Ashton (1982) and other
grammars all point out that the -KA- tense is used to express an
action or state which follows another action. For example:

Nilikwenda dukani, nikanunua maembe mengi, nikampa sita

ndugu yangu.

I went to a shop and bought many mangoes, I gave six to my

brother.

Here, the -KA- tense is used to give narrative meaning to single

observations that are recounted. Used this way, the -KA- is
usually first introduced by an ordinary past tense marker,
affirmative or negative. Normally, it is the -LI- tense which is
used for the introduction. However, it is acceptable to argue, as
other grammars have done, that the -KA- tense is not used at
the beginning of a sentence unless it is closely allied to the verb
in the previous sentence. Zawawi (1971) notes that the opening
sentence of a novel by Katalambula, Simu ya Kifo, contains the
-KA- tense in the first verbs of the sentence, as indicated below:

Inspekta Wingo akasikia kengele ya simu, ikalia pale mezani.

Akaonekana kutojali ...

Inspector Wingo heard the telephone on the table ringing. He

seemed not to care ...
Traditional grammars have also tried to associate the -KA-
morpheme with the past tense. Loogman (1965), for example,
contends that the -KA- form is used exclusively with the past
tense. This is a weak argument

138 SWAHILI GRAMMAR

Without verb of motion.

8. (Ill) Nikamwambia mke wangu (la) Kafungo mlango.

(Ill) Mke wangu akaniambia (la) Kafunge wewe.

9. (Ill) Nimeambiwa (la) nikatafute ndege, (la) mwenye

mbawa za dhahabu.

Negative.

10. (Ill) Mara yule Sultani (III) akasliika njia (la) kumfua-

tia yule mwivi, (III) akamtafuta (la) asimwone.

11. (Ia) VVakakaa hata jioni (la) wasipate hata kahawa.

12. (Ill) Paka akatoka (Ia) akaenda kumtafuta Tembo, (III)

akamwona (III) akamwambia (la) Nataka urafiki. (Ill) Tembo

asikatae (Ia) akamwambia Vyema.

13. (Ill) Jogoo akasikia maneno yake (Ia) asiseme neno, (Ic)

ak&kaa kimya tu.

14. (Ia) Akamkuta mke We ana majonzi. (Ia) Akamwuliza

(I) Je Bibi, una nini? (Ia) Yule Bibi asijibu neno.

16. (Ill) Njiani (Ia) Sultan akamwambia waziri (II) Ume- fabamu
maneno yale ? (Ic) Akasema La (I) Sikufahamu. Alcasema (III)
Wewe waziri mzima (II) usifahamu maneno yale?

THE -KI- TENSE

-KI- expresses imperfect, continuous or incomplete action. The

-KI- tense, as a simple tense, corresponds to two totally
different forms in English:

(i) A Present Participle, when that participle refers to an

incomplete action.

Tuhwaona watoto waki- We saw the children playing. (Lit.

c^eza- they-playing.)

(h) A conditional clause, when used without reference to Jjjy

definite time. Here Tone Pattern III is used.

mwona Hamisi, mwambie namtaka. If or should you see

_t (lit. you-him-see-

\ ing) Hamisi, tell him I want him.

of Klrh l^ese 8enf,oncea are consistent with the basic meaning

inn *or -KI- expressing a continuous or repetitive action past or
future time, see pp. 250-1.

VERBS AND THEIR TENSES (III)

THE -SIPO- TENSE The negative form of -KI- tense, expressing

an if idea, is indicated in two ways:

1. By inserting -SIPO- between Subject Prefix and the root.

This in English is generally translated by unless:

Asiposoma. Unless he reads.

This -sipo- consists of the negative si plus the po relative of
time and place, aruL^ieans literally whe^ not. (See also the
-japo- tense, p. 18G and for po, p. <^68^)

2. By using the general negative form with KAMA (if):

Kama hasomi. If he does not read.

For compound forms see later,

Note. The ku- of the Infinitive is retained in the -SIPO- tense of

monosyllabic verbs (and kwisha and kwenda), but not in the -KI-
tense, e.g. VVasipokuwa but Wakiwa.

Aphorisms illustrating the -KI- and -SIPO- tenses

143. Kijana akililia kisu mpe. If a child cries for a knife

give it to him.

144. Kijana ukimnyanganya If you take away a knife

kisu mpe kijiti. from a child, give him a

stick (instead).

145. Kikiharibika ni cha Fu- If it is spoilt, it is the arti-

ndi, kikifaa ni clia Bwa- sans; if it will do, it is na Suudi. Mr.

Suudis.

221. Likitoka lote. (<liote) When (the sun) comes out,

bask in it. (Make hay while the sun shines.)

260. Mgema akisifiwa tern bo When the palm wine tapper

hulitia maji. has his toddy praised (in

his hearing) he puts water to it.

448. Paka akiondoka panya When the cats away the hutawala
rat holds sway.

140 SWAHILI GRAMMAR

473. Samaki akioza ni ratungo pia.

625. Ukiona neno, usiposema neno, hupatikani na neno.

527. Ukitaja nyoka, shika ki- gongo.

628. Ukiwa mkazi jenga.

557. Usipoziba ufa utajenga ukuta.

If a fisli rots, the whole string (rots) also. (Lit. it is the string
also.) (Fish are often strung together on a spit of wood, or on
fibre.)

When you see something, if you do not say something, you will
not suffer something.

When you mention a snako, get hold of a cudgel.

If you are going to stay in a place (Lit. are a stayer), build.

Unless you stop up the crack you will build a wall. (A stitch in
time saves nine.)

VOCABULARY

kaa kimya sit still and tayari ready

silent fungu (ma-) portion

sikiliza listen atten ponaget well

tively mapema early

mwisho (mi- ) end maliza finish (tr.)

masikini poor person cheza mpira play football

jini genie inara moja at once

bin Adamu man msimamizi (wa-) overseer

zungumza converse saidia help

nyamaza keep quiet lipa pay

mwinda (wa-) hunter nya fall like rain

katika during lipwa bo paid

niazungumzo conversation kutoka mji from the town

Ua except kimbia run away

ku-cha to dawn ona see, find

EXERCISE 38b

Read and translate tho following extracts:

R (la) Jogoo akakaa kimya (la) akisikiliza rnwisho wa ma- neno

yao.

VERBS AND THEIR TENSES (III)

2. (Ia) Yule masikini akaenda zako (la) akilia.

3. (Ia) Akatokea Jini mrefu (Ia) akosimama karibu yake

akamwambia (Ia) Bin Adamu (III) ukitaka (Ia) uine- kufa, (III)
usitake (la) umekufa.

4. (Ill) Ukisikia watu wonazungumza (Ic) basi wamelala

(III) na ukisikia wamenyamaza (Ic) basi wa inacbo.

5. (Ill) Mwinda akiona ni Paka tu, (I) akamjibu Vyema, (Ia)

twende zetu kwangu.

6. (Ill) Jogoo (III) katika yale mazungumzo yao (Ia) aka

mwambia Sungura (I) Jc rafiki yaruju (II) usiku huni- sikia

nikisema? (Ia) Sungura akamjibu (III) Hata siku moja (Ia)
sijakusikia ukisema (III) ila karibu na asu- buhi tu, (III) nakusikia
ukisema (Ia) Kucha kucheree.

7. (Ill) Msiba huu, (III) usipoondoa (III) utakufa wewe (Ia)

au rnume wako.

8. (I) Vyema (Ia) mimi ni tayari kukupa fungu lako, (I) la-

je? (II) mtoto wangu asipopona?

EXERCISE 38C

Translate:

1. If you look for (it), you will find it (book.)

2. Unless he comes early, he will not finish his work.

3. If you are not careful, you will spoil your book.

4. If you dont know, you will be told.

5. We saw the porters playing football.

6. Should the tree fall, return at once.

7. If you see the overseer, tell him to come to my house

to-morrow.

8. If bananas are procurable, buy some.

9. Unless you tell me, I cannot help you.

10. If they do not return, I shall not pay them.

11. If rain does not fall to-morrow, all the flowers will die.

12. If they do not carry (any) loads, they will not be paid.

13. I saw them cultivating.

14. We saw them returning from town.

15. If you look, you will seo the animals running away.

16. If the police find the thief, they will arrest him.

MAKOSA YANAYOFANYWA MARA KWA MARA KATIKA

MATUMIZI YA KISWAHILI

A. S. Idarus

Utangulizi

Utafiti huu wa makosa yanayofanywa mara kwa mara katika

matumizi ya Kiswahili ulifanyika mjini Dar es Sabam kad ya
Januari, 1979 na Oktoba, 1979

Dar es Salaam ilichaguliwa kuwa eneo la kufanyia uianti kwa

sababu katika mji huo kuna watu wanaotoka katika kila mkoa
wa Tanzania na nchi za jirani na nyinginezo ambao wanakitumia
Kiswahili katika shughuli zao zote au baadhi ya shughuli hizo.
Kwa hivyo basi, athari ya lugha mbalimbali katika Kiswahili
inaonekana. Vyombo vikuu rasmi vya habari vinavyotumia
Kiswahili, na kuathiri mamilioni ya watu, viko Dar es Salaam.
Vyombo nivyo ni Redio Tanzania (Idhaa ya Taifa na Idhaa ya
Biashara) na gazeti la Chama cha Mapinduzi liitwalo Uhuru
ambalo hutolewa kila siku na Mzalendo ambalo hutolewa
Jumapili.

Utafiti huu umefanywa kwa watu wa aina mbalimbali walio mjini

Dar es Salaam, Wafanyakazi, watu ambao ndio kwanza
wametoka katika jamii za viiijini, walimu, wanafunzi, wafanya
biashara wa tabaka mbalimbali, maafisa na kadhalika.

Njia mbalimbali zilitumiwa katika utafiti huu. Katika vipindi vya

redio makosa kadha wa kadha ya matumizi ya Kiswahili
yanasikika kila siku.

Hali kadhalika, katika kusoma magazeti, mtafiti ameyakuta

makosa kadha ya matumizi ya Kiswahili.

Makosa mengi zaidi yanaweza kusikika katika mazungumzo ya

kila siku ya watu wa aina mbalimbali katika sehemu tofauti,
kama vile shule, viwandani, ofisini, benki, posta, vituo vya
mabasi, mitaani na kadhalika.

Baada ya kupata makosa makuu (yaani yale makosa

yanayofanywa mara kwa mara) mchunguzi huyu alitafuta
chanzo cha athari ya makosa hayo.

Katika utafiti huir, manjbo kadha wa kadha kuhusu matumizi ya

lugha yamedhihirika.
Kiwango cha kisomo humwathiri mtu katika matumizi ya lugha.
Kwa mfano, mtu mwenye shahada va Chuo Kikuu anafanya
makosa yanayotokana na athari ya Kiingereza mara nyingi zaidi

kuliko mtu ambaye hakufika katika shule ya sekondari.

Mahali mtu anakotoka pia huathiri matumizi ya lugha ya mtu

na, hali kadhalika, makosa yanayofanywa katika utumizi huo.

Kuna makosa ya matumizi ya Kiswahili yanayofanywa na watu

wa makamo yote na kuna makosa mengine yanayofanywa na
watu wa makamo fulani. Kwa mfano, kuna maneno ambayo
hutumiwa na wazee ipasavyo Iakini matumizi yake hukosewa na
vijana.

Msimamo wa mtu kuhusu lugha maalum huathiri matumizi yake

ya lugha hiyo. Mtu ambaye hakipendi, au anakidharau Kiswahili,
kwa kawaida, anafanya makosa mengi zaidi ya lugha hii kuliko
mtu anayekipenda na kukithamini Kiswahili.

Kwani imeonekana kuwa mtu mwenye kuipenda lugha maalum

hujitahidi asifanye kosa la matumizi ya lugha hiyo.

Kama kichwa cha habari kinavyoonyesha, makala haya

yanakusudia kuonyesha makosa yanayofanywa MARA KW MARA
katika matumizi ya Kiswahili. Mtafiti hakuchukua kilu kosa
alilolisikia au kulisoma.

Makosa yanayofanywa mara kwa mara katika matumizi ya

Kiswahili yanaweza kuwekwa katika mafungu manne. Kuna
makosa va msamiati. muundo. tafsiri na matamshi.

Makosa ya Msamiati:

I. KOSA: Matumizi ya maneno'jambazi'na'jangili'.

Vyombo vyetu vya habari vimewaathiri sana watu katika
kuyatumia vibaya maneno hayo mawili. Watu wengi huvatumia
maneno haya mawili kama kwamba yana maana moja. Isitoshe
watu wengi huyatumia maneno hayo nje ya maana zake sahihi.
Kwa mfano. unaweza kumsikia mtu akisema. "Majangili
vamevunja duka la nguo". Au watu wengine husema. Majangili
yameiba nguo zilizokuwa zimeanikwa nje. Matumizi vote hayo
mawili si sahihi.

SAHIHI: Maana sahihi ya neno jambazi" ni, kwanza, jitu janja

sana linalolaghai watu wengine hasa katika kuwaibia, na pili, ni
jit jizi lisilokuwa na huruma ambalo aghalabu hutumia nguvu
katika kuiba na si mdokozi au mwizi yeyote.

Maana sahihi ya neno jangili" ni mwindaji haramu katika

mbuga za kuhifadhia wanyama ambaye huwinda pasi na kuwa
na kibafi, kwa madhumuni ya kupata ngozi, pembe, nyama n.k.
ya wanyama hao, hususa, kwa ajili ya biashara.

175

1. A USA: Nona na nenepa. Watu wengj husikika

wakiambiana, siku hizi umenona sana.

SAHIHI: Kwa hakika ikiwa mtu hasemi kwa utani, kumwambia

mtu mwingine kuwa amenona si vizuri. Kwa kawaida mtu
huambiwa umenenepa na mnyama husemwa kuwa amenona.

Inaelekea ya kuwa matumizi ya nona kwa kumueleza mtu

mnene yametokana na kuambiana hivyo kwa utani lakini
hatimaye yvatu wengi wamelichukulia neno hilo katika
matumizi ya kawaida.
3. KOSA: Badala ya kutoka kazini, nilikwenda moja kwa rnoja
nyumbani. Huo ni msemo unaotumiwa na baadhi ya watu
wanaotaka kusema Baada ya kutoka kazini, nilikwenda moja
kwa moja nyumbani. Yaani, mahali pa kusema baada watu
hao husema, badala.

SAHIHI: Badala ina maana ya hali ya kitu/kitendo kimoja

kuchukua nafasi ya kitu/kitendo kingine. Kwa mfano, Badala ya
Ali, mwingize Juma katika nafasi hiyo, kwani Ali ameamua
kutokuja, au Badala ya kufanya kazi uliyopangiwa, wewe
unacheza na kupoteza wakati.

Baada inatumika kuonyesha kitendo fulani kinapomalizika na

kutueleza kuwa kitendo hicho kimalizikapo kingine kinafuatia/
kitafuatia. Kwa mfano, Baada ya kutoka kazini. Musa alikwenda
moja kwa moja nyumbani au Nitakula baada ya kumaliza kazi
hii. Makosa ya maneno hayo yanatokana na kufanana kwake
hasa kwa mtu ambaye Kiswahili si lugha yake ya kuzaliwa.

4. KOSA: Mwenyewe na peke yangu. Ni kosa kusema

nilimkuta mwenyewe kwa maana ya Nilimkuta peke yake.

SAHIHI: Ni sahihi kusema Kazi hii nitaifanya mwenyewe yaani

bila kusaidiwa na mtu yeyote; lakini mtu anaposema Nilimkuta
mwenyewe ana maana ya kuwa alimkuta yule mtu mwenye
inali kitu fulani au alimkuta yule mtu mwenyewe na si mtu
mwingine.

Inaelekea kuwa kosa hili linatokana na upana wa maana na

matumizi ya neno mwenyewe na kukaribiana, na pengine
katika matumizi mengine kufanana, na matumizi ya peke
yake.
5. KOSA: Barabara na Mtaa. Hivi leo, barabara zote za
Dar es Salaam zina vibao vya majina vyenye kuziita barabara
hizo Mitaa. Kwa mfano, kuna Mtaa wa Nkrumah, mtaa' wa

Samorfc. iirk, Na utumizi huo ambao si sahihi unazidi

kuenea.

SAHIHI: Maana ya mtaa ni eneo fulani katika mji ambalo

linatambulika kuwa ni eneo kamili. Aghalabu, mtaa huwa na
barabara zaidi ya moja. Ukubwa wa mitaa unatofautiana.
Kuna

mitaa yenye kiasi cha nyumba 50 na kuna mitaa yenye nyumba

zaidi 7a 500.

Barabara ni njia iliyotengenezwa maalum kwa watu au magari

kupitia na katika dhana ya kisiku hizi barabara, mara nyingi,
huwa ni njia zilizokusudiwa kwa usafiri wa magari. Katika miji
barabara ni njia moja kamili yenye nyumba katika pande zote
mbili (au pengine hata upande mmoja).

Inaelekea ya kuwa kosa la kuiita barabara mtaa ni kosa

lililoanzia mjini Dar es Salaam. Kosa hili halikuanza karibuni.
Limeanza siku nyingi.

Katika wakati ambapo Tanzania Bara ilikuwa in&tawaliwa na

Waingereza miji yetu ilikuwa imegawanywa katika maeneo ya
"Uzunguni, Uhindini na Uswahilini (Mitaani). Kwa kawaida
nyumba za Uswahilini zilikuwa ziko karibu karibu na kulikuwa
na mitaa kadha wa kadha katika maeneo hayo. Wenyeji wa
sehemu hizo waliziita sehemu hizo za Uswahilini Mitaani.
Mitaa ya Dar es Salaam ilikuwa ni mikubwa kiasi k.m. Kariakoo,
Magomeni n.k. na barabara hizo ndefu "Mitaa. Hata hivyo, si
wenyeji wote wa Dar es Salaam wanaoziita barabara "mitaa
ijapokuwa kosa hilo linazidi kuenea hasa baada ya vibao vya
mitaa kuwekwa.

6. KOSA: Utamaduni. Neno utamaduni linatumiwa na watu

wengi kwa maana ya asilia au -a kienyeji. Kwa mfano
limekuwa jambo la kawaida kusikia watu wakizungumza kuhusu
ngoma za utamaUuni, viatu vya utama'duni, sanaa za
utamaduni n.k. wakiwa na maana va ngoma. viatu, sanaa n.k.
pilia. yaani zisizokuwa za kuiga kutoka nje ay kwa wageni.
Matumizi hayo si sahihi abadan.

S AH I HI: Utamaduni maana yake ni ustaarabu, maendeleo ya

kijumuia, na fani mbalimbali zinazohusiana na mambo hayo,
k.m. tabia. burdani. mila, desturi. lugha, mapishi, mavazi, n.k.
kwa upana na jumla yake. Kwa mfano, mpira wa miguu ni
sehemu ya utamaduni wa Tanzania ijapokuwa mchezo huo asili
yake si Tanzania. Sanaa ni fani mojawapo ya utamaduni wa
binadamu. Kuna sanaa asilia za Tanzania na sanaa za kutoka
nje. Sanaa zote hizo ni fani za utamaduni.

Kosa la matumizi ya ndno utamaduni lilianza baada ya serikali

ya Tanzania kutangaza dhamiri yake ya kuwafanya Watanzania

wajivunie utamaduni wao wa asilia kinyume na utawala wa
Waingereza uliojaribu kuufanya utamaduni asilia wa Tanzania
uonekane duni. Mojawapo ya hatua zilizochukuliwa na serikali
ya Tanzania huru ilikuwa ni kufufua na kuhimiza maendeleo ya
sanaa.

177
muziki na ufundi asilia wa Tanzania. Basi ndipo hapo watu
wengine wakaanza kuona Utamaduni na kienyeji na asilia
kuwa ni maana moja.

KOSA: Matumizi ya neno mkupuo kuwa na maana ya hatua.

Kosa hili halijaenea sana kwa wananchi ijapokuwa linasikika
mara kwa mara kwa baadhi ya watu. Matumizi ya neno
mkupuo kwa maana ya hatua maalum ya utendaji wa kitu
fulani yalianza mwishoni mwa mwaka 1978 wakati wa vita kati
ya wananchi wa Tanzania na Majeshi ya Uvamizi ya Idi Amin
ambaye alisema (kwa Kiingereza) kuwa uvamizi wake huo ni
phase one (hatua ya kwanza) na ingelikuwa na phase two
(hatua ya pili). Kwa bahati mbaya mmoja wa wafanyakazi wa
vyombo vyetu vya habari akafasiri phase one kuwa ni
mkupuo wa kwanza na phase two kuwa ni mkupuo wa pili.

SAHIHI: Mkupuo linatokana na neno kupua ambalo lina

maana kadha wa kadha. Moja ya maana yake ni kukitupa,
kukiangusha au kukiwachia kitu kwa msukumo au mstuko
mmoja, ambao huitwa mkupuo. Kwa hivyo mkupuo si tafsiri
sahihi ya phase. Kwa hivyo si sahihi kusema, k.m. ujenzi wa
shule hii uko katika mkupuo wa kwanza.

8. KOSA: WEKA NA TIA. Kosa mojawapo katika makosa

yanayofanywa mara kwa mara ni matumizi ya neno weka
badala ya tia. Kwa mfano, Juma tafadhali niwekeechai katika
kikombe hiki ambapo msemaji huyo anataka atiliwe chai katika
kikombe.

SAHIHI: Msemaji huyo, ili awe sahihi, angelisema Juma,

tafadhali nitilie chai katika kikombe hiki.
Kuweka kitu mahali, aghalabu ni kukiweka kitu hicho mpaka
hapo baadaye au kukiweka kisitumike. Kutia kitu mahali ni
kukiingiza kitu hicho (k.m. Chai) katika mahali (k.m. kikombe).

Makosa ya Muundo

I. KOSA: Sikuwa ninajua. k.m. Sikuwa ninajua kuwa Tumi ni

dada yako.

SAHIHI: Sikujua.

k.m. Sikujua kuwa Tunu ni dada yako.

SAB ABU YA KOSA: Inaelekea kosa hili linafanywa zaidi na

Wachaga kutokana na athan ya lugha yao ya kwanza (Kichaga)
juu ya uzungumzaji wa Kiswahili. k.m.

Kichaga Kiswahili . Kisahili

Macharae (Athari) (Fasaha)

Nsheeishi: Sikuwa nikijua sikujua

2. KOSA: Sijala tena

k.m. Sijala tena samaki wa kupika, hii ni mara yangu ya kwanza.

SAB ABU YA KOSA: Athari ya lugha ya kwanza, hasu athari ya

Kichaga katika matumizi ya Kiswahili. Hata hivyo, imeonekana
kuwa kosa hili hufanvwa na watu wa kutoka sehemu mbalimbali
za

Tanzania.

Kichaga Kiswahili Kiswahili

(Machame) (athari) (Fasaha)

Nshi lyelye nlyingi sijala tena sijawahi kula

N B: Sijala tena" katika Kiswahili fasaha ina maana ya kuwa

baada ya kula kitu fulani wakati fulani, sikurudia tena kula kitu
hicho.

3. KOSA: Nikamkutana

. k.m. Nilikwenda mjini nikamkuta na Maria

SAB ABU YA KOSA: Athari ya lugha ya kwanza. Si lugha chache

za kibantu zenye muundo kama huo wa jcuongeza m va
mtendwa' (mtu wa tatu) hasa katika lugha zilizo katika
mwambao wa Ziwa

Victoria k.m. Kihaya.

kihaya Kiswahili Kiswahili (fasahai

Namubuganganwa Nikamkutana Nikakutana naye

Katika Kiswahili si sahihi kusema nikamkuta na fulani tukiwa

na maana msemaji ndiye mtendaji mahsusi na yule mtu wa tatu
(mtendewa) ndiye aliyekutwa. Lakini inapotukia kuwa tendo
lenyewe ni la pande mbili, k.m. kupigana, kukutana,
kushindana. n.k. basi ile m ya mtendewa inatoweka.

4. KOSA: Kufanyaga

k.m. Hapa, kila siku tunafanyaga k'azi

SAHIHI: Kufanya

SAB ABU YA MAKOSA: Athari ya lugha ya kwanza, hasa

Kinyamwezi na Kisukuma, ijapokuwa kosa hilo hufanywa hata ns
watu ambao lugha hizo si lugha zao za kwanza.
5. KOSA (a) Samahanini

(b) Habarini

k.m. (a) Enyi ndugu, samahanini kwa makosa jttliyowatendea.

(b) Habarini zenu mabibi na mabwana.

SAB ABU YA KOSA: Samahanini na habarini hutumika

msemaji anapoongea na mtu zaidi ya mmoja. Kwa hivyo basi,
kuna ule mwelekeo wa kufuata ule muundo wa kuweka ni
baada ya tendo ili kuonyesha msemaji anaongea na watu wawili
au zaidi. Hapana budi ikumbukwe kuwa hiyo ni inatumika kwa
(i) vitendo tu na (ii) kuwaomba au kuwataka watu watende k.m.
Sikilizeni, Njooni, twendeni, n.k. Habari na Samahani si
vitendo. Mtu anaomba Samahani (Msamaha) na
anapomwamkia mtu au watu wengine anataka kujua habari
zao

6. KOSA: Nilimkuta hayuko.

k.m. Nilikwenda kwa Kondo, lakini nikamkuta

hayuko.

SAHIHl: Sikumkuta

k.m. Nilikwenda kwa Kondo, lakini sikumkuta.

SAB ABU ZA KOSA: Athari ya lugha ya kwanza hasa kwa wale

watu ambao lugha yao ya kwanza ni Kichaga (ijapokuwa kosa
hilo hufanywa na watu wachache ambao lugha yao ya kwanza
si

SABABU YA KOSA: Athari ya lugtyi ya kwanza.

Kosa hili hufanywa. hususa, na watu'ambao lugha yao ya
kwanza ni Kihava.

Kihaya Kiswahili . Kiswahili

(Athari) (Fasaha)

Yanyiba amaera Ameniiba fedha Ameniibia fedha

gange zangu zangu

8. KOSA: Kwenda na miguu

k.m. Kwa kuwa sina gari, nitakwenda na miguu

SAHIH1: Kwenda kwa mguu

k.m. Kwa kuwa sina gari, nitakwenda kwa mguu.

SAB ABU YA KOSA: Athari ya lugha ya kwanza hasa kwa watu

ambao lugha yao ya kwanza ni Kihaya (na watu wengine walio
jirani nao).

Kihaya

Kugenda na 'maguru

9. KOSA: Kurbwa

k.m. Kalamu yangu imeibwa

SAH1HI: Kuibiwa

Kalamu yangu imeibiwa

SAB ABU YA KOSA: (a) Athari ya lugha ya kwanza hasa kwa

watu wa baadhi ya vikundi vya lugha vya Kusini ya Tanzania.

(b) Kufuata sarufi ya lugha kikasuku. Kwa watu wanaoona

kuwa maadam hali ya kutendwa katika kiswahili huishia na
Konsonati w k.m. pigwa, urnbwa, limwa n.k. basi kila tendo la
'kutendewa' litaishia hivyo hivyo. Na hapo ndipo panapozuka
miundo ya ajabu katika Kiswahili kama vile kuonwa kuibwa, n.k.

Kiwanji Kiswahili Kiswahili

(Wilaya ya (athari) (fasaha)

Niombe)

Jihejilwe Imeibwa Imeibiwa

KOSA: Uikusudi

k.m. Nimekuja Kapaili kusudi niongec na nyinyk

SAHIHI. \ (a) Ili

(b) Kusudi

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