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Note on Usage
- Indiana University Press
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Note on Usage In this book, Swahili nouns that refer to classes of people (ethnic or occupational ) will retain their singular m-and plural wa-prefixes: thus, Mmanga, a Manga person; Wamanga, Manga persons. “Unguja” is used to denote the island sometimes called “Zanzibar”; the latter is used only to denote the polity as a whole. Swahili-speakers conventionally address one another by their “first” names, not the patronym, respect being indicated by use of a title: Bi Khadija, Shaykh Ali, Profesa Jonathon. But historical narrative presents peculiar difficulties, especially when an individual became well known by a patronym (Muhsin, Karume ) or preferred to sign letters and official documents using the clan name (M. A. el-Haj). I have been flexible in choosing which form to use, informing my choice by my feeling for how a particular individual was commonly known or preferred to be known. Translations are my own, except where noted. ...