A nation in search of a script: the problem of establishing a national orthography for Somalia.
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Date
1968
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Publisher
University of East Africa
Abstract
While the Somali share the same spoken language, they frequently cannot communicate with one another in writing without the help of translators. The question of how and with what degree of success the Arabic script could be adapted for Somali is mainly concerned with the system of representing the relatively large number of Somali vowels. The thesis has tried to chronicle the history of some of the notable attempts to transcribe the Somali language. In presenting the study of Somalia’s search for an alphabet, the author has attempted to draw upon historical, linguistic, biographical, socio-psychological and political analyses. Surveys carried out to test the opinions of the civil servants, students and the inhabitants of Mogadishu, show that a considerable amount of these elements of the “modern sector” of society are in favour of the Latin transcription of Somali social and economic changes may, therefore, be said to favour the Latin script in the long run. While the national language remains un-written, Somalia is paying a high price. Where there are no natural linguistic barriers, artificial ones have been erected: Arabic (the language of the state religions, Islam), English (from the former British protected North) and Italian (used in the South) are the three recognized “official” languages. Colonial attempts to transcribe Somali seem to have floundered due to religious opposition. A popular referendum could only bring more problems than it would solve. The handling of such a divisive and emotional issue needs more sophisticated political techniques. An immediate way out could be found and the deadlock broken, if Somalia leaders were to agree to establish a dual system of writing Somali. The adoption of both Latin and Arabic characters which are championed by the pre-ponderous majority of Somalis. This is not the “best” but the “optimal best” solution for the problem given the existing conflicting forces. The problem of a script for Somali is, though basic, unique in this day and age. Accordingly, it does not lend itself to any relevant comparisons. Nevertheless, it may be said to symbolize the highly reconciliatory (reflecting the society) traits of the Somali political system relative to, for example, the highly mobilizing attributes of the Tanzanian political system.
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Keywords
Somali Language, Orthography and spelling, Arabic script
Citation
Adam, H. M. (1968). A nation in search of a script: the problem of establishing a national orthography for Somalia. Masters dissertation, University of East Africa. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx?parentpriref=)