The Unification of The Shona Dialects: A photographic reprint with an introduction by Herbert Chimhundu

Description

Publisher: ALLEX Project Publication date: 2005 Number of pages: 257 ISBN: ISBN 82-90954-27-1This volume is a re-issue of Doke’s Report of 1931 in the form of a photographic reprint, with an introduction by Professor Herbert Chimhundu of the University of Zimbabwe. For greater usefulness, the introduction is also summarised in Shona. Doke’s Report remains the major reference point in the history of the development of Shona as a standard written language. Doke’s recommendations on Shona are the basis for Shona orthography, and accordingly for Shona literature language description and Shona dictionaries. General policy on language in Zimbabwe has also been deeply infl uenced by Doke’s recommendations in the Report, even on other issues that were peripheral to his main topic. This book is still essential reading, not only for students of Shona at tertiary level (especially those taking courses on dialects and orthography), but for everyone with an interest in the development of Shona as a standard language. The Report on the Unification of Shona has been out of print for a long time. The ALLEX Project has therefore decided to produce this re-issue for limited circulation. The introduction sets Doke’s report against its proper background, and gives an in-depth review of the development of Shona orthography up to the present.