الإسلام والامثال العربية ومدي تأثير هما في الأمثال السواحلية : دراسة ميدانية مقارنة

Abstract

This research aims to study the close relationship between Arabic and Swahili languages at the proverb level. The research involves studying the impacts and effects of proverbs in the two languages in relation to the vocabularies, meanings, style and civilization, using the comparative method to analyse the Arabic proverbs and their influences on Swahili proverbs. The researcher collected different proverbs in both Arabic and Swahili languages from different sources and literatures of Arabic and Swahili, and distributed them to specific area based on this research. Meanwhile, interviews were also conducted with Muslim scholars, elders as well as specialists in Swahili language to confirm their meanings, aims and area of usage in Swahili proverbs specifically within the Swahili society. Findings of the research show that Swahili proverbs are greatly influenced by the Arabic language, its proverbs and Islamic civilization through borrowing of their own proverbs, meanings, vocabularies and sometimes even their forms. This research indicates that, the impacts of Arabic proverbs are much greater on the Swahili proverbs. It also points out that the impact of these Arabic proverbs on Swahili proverbs is comprehensive with long historical roots of the close relationship between the Arabs and their Swahili counterparts in terms of socio-economic, political as well as cultural contacts through the ages in the coast of East Africa. Conclusively, the Arabic influence on Swahili proverbs in general is a reflection of the strong relationship between the Arabs and the Swahilis under the umbrella of Islamic civilization.