Papers on Language and Culture: An African Perspective  

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Most of the papers reproduced here have either been presented at a national or international conference, and some have been published elsewhere. I have obtained permission to republish because I think it is important to have them all together. The idea came to me when I was asked, during an interview, why I wrote on such different topics as part of my scholarship. I had to explain that they are all on language and culture, two areas that are closely interrelated. 
 
It occurred to me that having all the papers published in one volume would help readers see how they relate to one another. This would enable a more meaningful dialogue on the topic. Although each paper stands alone, cross-referencing provides a cumulative effect that is missed when the papers are read separately 
 
The last chapter is not a paper in the traditional sense, in that is just a list of words. However, it adds greatly to the reader's understanding of the Kikuyu language that is used as an example. The semantic domains are a people group's way of understanding, categorizing and labelling the world around them. I think it will be especially important as a source for future scholars who will desire to analyze the thought processes of their ancestors.