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Saul S Bichwa is a Lecturer in the Department of Languages and Literature. His research interest is in theoretical linguistics, more specifically in phonology, and syntax interfaces. His work is set against the background assumptions argued for by Noam Chomsky: that there exists a specific human cognitive capacity for language which is present at birth and requires simple environmental stimulation for linguistic competence in the mother tongue to develop during the early years of life. The theory of this capacity is known as Universal Grammar. Accepting this nativist approach to language raises the challenge of accounting for the existence of seemingly very diverse grammatical structures in the languages of the world. His work, along with that of a very active worldwide community of linguists, is concerned with showing how these grammatical systems differ along relatively simple lines in such a way that the central distinguishing features are accessible to children acquiring language based on primary linguistic data. To this end, he has worked on the tonology, language learning and acquisition, and morpho-syntax of certain Bantu languages, specifically igiHa and Kiswahili.

Telephone number: +255-753070423

Email address: bichwa.saul@duce.ac.tz or mwalimubichwa@gmail.com

Personal website: http://fohss.duce.ac.tz

Location: 

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Building
Dar es Salaam University College of Education
P.O.BOX 2329
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania