Why Learning Swahili May Be Easier Than You Think

Introduction

People act like learning a new language is an impossible feat, but they are wrong. In this article I want to show you why learning Swahili may be easier than you think.

During my journey I was surprised how straight forward the language is mechanically. I was even more surprised at how welcoming and helpful the local people were.

In this article I am assuming your native language is not related to Swahili. If your native language is Kinyarwanda, Lingala or Shona learning Swahili would be even easier. I am fluent in English, Swahili and speak a little Spanish. So far I would say Spanish is a little easier because of resources and massive shared vocabulary, but the verb conjugations, spelling, irregularities make me want to pull my dreadlocks out and only Speak Swahili.

Complicated Grammar System That Is Somewhat Optional

Swahili has some unique grammatical features that go beyond the scope of this article. Unlike Spanish noun classing in Swahili is a little bit more fluid. In Swahili you will never need to worry about misgendering someone with your grammar words. The Swahili noun class system is more fluid and can be manipulated to change meanings of words. As long as you are not talking about people in the Ki/Vi class (inanimate objects) you should be fine.

When I was making a lot of mistakes with grammar no one really would correct me because honestly no one really cared. Mostly, people talk to be understood, not like they are at a job interview. Now for me properly using the noun class system feels like a flex.

People Will Hype You Up (Sometimes Too Much)

If you are not a native of East Africa, especially if you are American or mzungu (This basically means white person, westerner, or foreigner) essentially anyone from far away they are excited to speak to you. So many people have asked me to come visit their family just to show off that they met a foreigner who could speak their language. Oftentimes when I talk to people it is their first opportunity to speak to a westerner. 

I had a friend who would sometimes jokingly introduce me to friends like this - “ Huyu ni Kevin, yeye anajua Kiswahili kuliko baba yako” Meaning this is Kevin, he speaks Swahili even better than your dad. That person who I was being introduced to would then want to test me to see if it is true, thus improving my skill more.

Often people will react to me saying “Kiswahili chako ni kizuri, wewe sio mzugnu tena wewe ni Msawhili” Meaning literally you are not a white person/westerner/foreigner any more you are Swahili. Funny interactions like this makes your learning journey interesting.

Local People Will Help You

In general it is easy to get help when you are in Africa. This also goes for language. Especially in my early days of learning when I traveled with a note book to document all of my learning, people often would engage with me and teach me micro lessons. Often people would write new words or concepts for me in my notebook. This note book was like a tangible invitation that made people feel comfortable to talk to me in Swahili. Seeing the handwriting of different people in my notebook helps create long lasting memories thus translating into gained language skills. Hand writing is a lost art form that I think is much more intimate than text communication.

Environment of Talking

I feel bad for immigrants in America, we live in such an anti-social environment which is the opposite of Africa and especially Tanzania (TZ). Here are some comparisons:

Gym –TZ:  many gyms people do not wear headphones, we would usually work out in groups. US: headphones and little conversation.

Public Transportation – TZ:- listening to Swahili music / radio and or talking to fellow passengers US: - None, drive your car alone.

Going to the Store –TZ: - Talk to your farmer, butcher, fisherman, ect US: maybe get assistance at self check out

In Tanzania I need to communicate with people face to face to get my needs met, which makes it natural to learn Swahili. Services and technology in the United States separate us from each other making oral communication often obsolete. 

Rapid Fire

• Phonetic alphabet - You read it just like you write it 

• Only one sound that does not exist in English n’g (as in Ng’ombe) a nasally sound

• Can start typing on any keyboard- You can start typing right away and don't need accents or ñ