Beloved Swahili and English speaker; please help me understand. What is the exact translation of “kuweza”? Is it “to be able”? Or, “managing”? Or “probability”? Is it the combination of all these?
We can all agree, WEZA, the infinitive (‘kiini-neno’ in Swahili) means: Can, able, probability, manage, afford to pay, etc.
What about its auxiliaries, appendages and supplementaries? “Uwezekano”? (possibility, probability) “uwezo” (noun), kuwezana -wezekana (adverb); conjugations : “anaweza” (he-she can, able), wanaweza (they can, are able), “tunaweza” (we can, are able), “unaweza” (you can, are able)… and so on.
And how can we elaborate this important and currently overstretched Swahili verb? Broadcasters, public speakers and administrators have been misapplying “kuweza” the way a cook re -uses oil for frying “cheap” street chips again and again and again…
Check this news bulletin. “Leo Watanzania wameweza kupiga kura…”
How do we translate that sentence into English? Do we say “today Tanzanians HAVE BEEN ABLE to vote”? May we agree that “weza” (possibility, ability ,can) here DOES NOT denote that those voting were either incapable or suffering from mental and physical disability?
Why cant we JUST SAY “Wamepiga kura”?
Now. Most readers of this paper are bilingual ie. fluent in Kiswahili and English.
Question. In the English language can we say : “Tanzanians were able to vote” instead of “Tanzanians voted…”? What is the context for being “able to”? Isn’t it ridiculous to say “they were able to vote…”? Unless they had been hampered or restricted by something? Maybe bad weather and illness?
Do we say “been able “ in correct English? And is it right Swahili to say “they have been able”…how exactly is the word “uwezo”, “kuweza” which in English is “to be able” used?
Are the broadcasters abusing this word? Has KUWEZA been hijacked to another planet?
What unsettles this columnist is how broadcasters and social media pundits – who sometimes lack credible language skills ( like those who keep messing up the syllables L and R), are propagating and establishing WRONG words and WRONG ways of using verbs.
Consequently, like obedient sheep, the general public just follows suit. Technically, it is the media, artists, teachers and administrators who assist in establishing, publicising and enriching global languages.
However, if unchecked and monitored they can be detrimental and mislead everyone.
Let me hear your views. And… Bless your eyes.
