Understanding Kiswahili Vowels

Abstract

Phonemes have been identified by linguists as the main phonological inputs of all human spoken languages. These phonemes are divided mainly into two-consonants and vowels. Each language has selected from the universal phonetic pool its own type and number of phonemes for its communicative purposes. Most of them have more consonants than vowels. Several languages share the same phonemes but use them differently to perform a variety of language specific linguistic functions. Kiswahili being one of these languages that has been studied extensively presents an interesting, scenario with regard to its use of phonemes. Kiswahili has over thirty phonemes. Traditional Kiswahili phonologists have identified five as vowels (Current linguists have identified more vowels), yet any consonant with the exception of syllabic C, cannot be used alone without it forming syllabicity with a vowel. Any user (speaker or reader) of Kiswahili language will notice that vowels though fewer than consonants have the highest use frequency. This indicates that its habitual users creatively use them to perform a variety of linguistic functions. This paper then, seeks to discuss and analyze the nature and functions of Kiswahili vowels.