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A Grammar of the Somali Language With Examples in Prose and Verse, and an Account of the Yibir and Midgan Dialects

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Somali is one of the Cushitic family of languages spoken in the horn of Africa and the official language of Somalia. This practical grammar, published in 1905, was prepared by J. W. C. Kirk, who first learnt to speak the language during his service with Somali troops during the British Empire's failed attempt in 1902–1904 to wrest control of the region from the Dervish state under Muhammad Abdullah Hassan. His unique knowledge of the interior of the country and the different tribes making up the population meant that Kirk's insights were invaluable in advancing scholarly knowledge in the West. Perhaps as importantly, Kirk also records a number of literary examples with his translations of Somali stories and songs. Another appendix explores the dialects of the Midgan (or Madhiban) and Yibir, both minority tribes who kept their languages secret from mainstream Somali society.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Cambridge Library Collection - Linguistics

Call Number

-

Publisher

: Cambridge University Press., 2010

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

9780511708671

Classification

NONE

Content Type

text

Media Type

computer

Carrier Type

online resource

Edition

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Subject(s)

Language and Linguistics
African and Caribbean Literature,
Area Studies, African Studies,
Linguistics, Literature,
African and Caribbean Language

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

J. W. C. Kirk

Other Information

Cataloger

Arin

Source

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Validator

maya

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511708671

Journal Volume

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Journal Issue

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