Talk:Bemba language

Kubuntu/Ubuntu
You may want to know that the Bemba Language has been used to name the Ubuntu Linux Distribution, where Ubuntu means "Towards humanity". Isn't it so philosopical ? :)


 * [comment added to the article on April 4, 2005 by ]


 * Ubuntu is an old Bantu word found in several Bantu languages. It has catched on in South Africa, where it is linked strongly to cultural nationalism. Ubuntu has been called the essence of democracy, is a keyword in the so-called African Renaissance, but has also been characterized as the glorification of an imagined past. Desmond Tutu used it in his theological system and others set it to use in management models. In fact, I just discovered that it has its own article, and that is where some words about the Linux distribution might belong. So I've moved this comment to the Talk page.  &mdash; mark &#9998; 22:31, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)


 * It's "kubuntu" (the name of the KDE variant distro) that means "towards humanity", if its FAQ is correct. Townmouse 09:23, 10 July 2005 (UTC)


 * That's correct, and it could also be Bemba in form, but it's a general Bantu term - it's Mark Shuttleworth's company that developed Ubuntu, and he's from Cape Town. It's used in several South African languages too, like Xhosa (spoken around there), and has become a general buzzword in English in South Africa. Certainly Bemba was not in mind specifically. Harsimaja (talk) 15:22, 3 August 2011 (UTC)

Ubuntu means Humanity to others

Wacky wording
The phrase "getting in her pants" in this article seems a bit too slangy, but I can't think of a better alternate wording... Can anybody think of something to improve it? Power piglet 08:52, 27 June 2006 (UTC)
 * I agree, however, I cannot think of a good wording. The current one is very unprofessional, and does not belong in an encyclopedia.--71.56.143.145 22:16, 2 July 2006 (UTC)
 * It's a little better now. Power piglet 07:45, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

Chibemba as the name of the language
Formally the name of the language is 'Chibemba' (or the variants Cibemba, Ichibemba, Chiwemba). Use of 'Bemba' on its own without 'language' following may be common, but is an informal, shorthand usage. For an encyclopedia, I think it would be more rigorous and consistent to use 'Bemba language' or 'Chibemba' but not 'Bemba' on its own, and so I've edited it in that way. Rexparry sydney 03:51, 28 January 2007 (UTC)


 * 'Bemba' is the language's name in English, and 'Icibemba' is the language's name in Bemba, surely? I think I've seen this usage recommended in official Zambian publications, though I can't remember exactly where. Tabisini (talk)

Disputing number of speakers and Ethnologue status comment
1)The Bemba language is spoken in three provinces of Zambia (Luapula, Northern and Copperbelt) but all the persons in these provinces are not native bemba speakers.Bemba simply evolved as the common language of the mining area hence its widespread useThe colonial authorities introduced taxes in Bamba areas to force them to work in the mines but left the South to produce food crops for the mines and the west was semi automous due to mining right treaty agreements. Similarly Nyanga become the common language of Lusaka and the administration, military and police as colonial powers used staff from Eastern province for administrative authority. The lamba's on the Copperbelt, the Lunda of Luapula province and many others (of whom I am one) speak Bemba as a second language. The view that all Bemba speakers are native Bemba's cost one Bemba presidential candidate dearly. He lost votes and the election largely due to this mistaken view. Many Zambian's brought up on the copperbelt speak Bemba but are very loyal to their original ethnic groups and certainly do not consider Bemba speaking to represent higher social standing. another incorrect statement in your analysis of the Bemba language. 5)Finally last election saw the alliance of the east, south, central and west and northwestern areas against the bemba north as a rejection of the premise of Bemba superiority that your dictionary seems to ascribe to.


 * Mwabombeni mukwai -- You wrote "that your dictionary seems to ascribe to" but it is YOUR dictionary (encyclopedia) -- you have the right to edit it. I have made some changes based on your criticism. - Rexparry sydney 05:31, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

Bemba language template
If you are a native speaker of Bemba then you can help translate this template into your own language:

Edit

--Amazonien (talk) 02:47, 20 January 2009 (UTC)

Status of Town Bemba
"Creole" is not the right term to describe Town Bemba. "Urban dialect" is a better description.

Creoles arise from pidgins - radically simplified languages that arise in contact situations - and are very different from their parent languages. Town Bemba never went through a pidgin phase, and although it has a lot of loanwords, its grammar and phonology differ only very slightly from traditional Bemba.

Is Town Bemba only spoken in the Copperbelt? An urbanised form of Bemba is also widely heard in Lusaka.

--Tabisini (talk) 18:21, 21 December 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
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External links modified
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