Curriculum Vitae

Minah Nabirye
	Born on 20 October 1972, Minah Nabirye hails from Busoga, a Lusoga speaking region in Eastern Uganda. She comes from the village of Buwaabe, in the sub-county of Bugweri, county of Ibulanku, district of Iganga. In 1997 she obtained her Bachelor's Degree from the Islamic University in Uganda, in the field of education, specializing in the teaching of English language and literature in English. In 2009 she obtained her Master's Degree from Makerere University, in the field of linguistics, specializing in lexicography (i.e. the compilation of dictionaries). In October 2010 she will begin with her PhD research at Ghent University, in Belgium, with the aim of writing a corpus-based grammar of Lusoga. She is very active in teaching and researching languages in general and indigenous languages in particular. She is especially dedicated to the documentation of Lusoga, her mother tongue, a mostly oral language spoken by over two million people.
Since 2004 she has read papers at conferences, published peer-reviewed articles, and authored several books on indigenous languages and Lusoga in particular. She is also a consultant on large monolingual dictionary projects for Bantu audiences, most recently at Eduardo Mondlane University, in Maputo, Mozambique, where she helped jumpstart monolingual dictionary projects for Cibalke, Cimanyika, Cindawu, Cisena, Citewe, and Xichangane. Minah Nabirye is also the founder and Executive Director of Menha Publishers, a publishing company active since 2008 and headquartered in Kampala, Uganda. Major publications so far include the first monolingual Lusoga dictionary Eiwanika ly'Olusoga, the collection of essays A Way with Words, and the Electronic Lusoga Dictionary.
Track Higher education qualifications (2) Awards & Grants (4) Dissertation (1) Teaching and additional studies (7) Conference papers Keynote & Plenary lectures (1) Lectures (12) Projects Research (3) Dictionaries (2) Corpora (1) Attendances Conferences (7) Consultative meetings (4) Workshops (4) Publications Books (2) Refereed articles (3) of which covered by the Thomson Reuters Web of Science Citation Index (2) Abstracts (7) Media coverage (6) Visits, Memberships, Instructor Official visits – Dictionary Units (8) Memberships – Associations (3) Instructor at training courses (1)

Higher education qualifications (2)

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Awards & Grants (4)

• 2003 KVINNFORSK Travel Grant (administered by the Centre for Women and Gender Research, University of Tromsø, Norway): all expenses paid to attend a 'Gender and Indigenous Languages Workshop' in Tromsø, Norway
• 2007 InterChange Travel Grant (administered by InterChange, Toronto, Canada): all expenses paid to attend the 'International Symposium on Community-Based Peacebuilding Across Borders and Boundaries' in Kigali, Rwanda
• 2009 Kangxi Travel Grant (administered by the College of Chinese Language & Culture, Beijing Normal University): all expenses paid to attend the 'International Seminar on Kangxi Dictionary & Lexicology' in Huangcheng Village, Beiliui Town, Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province, China
• 2010 BOF-DOS PhD Grant (administered by the Special Research Fund of Ghent University): 1,700 EUR, monthly for four years

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Dissertation (1)

MA

Compilation of the Monolingual Lusoga Dictionary (Nabirye 2008; xviii + 410 pp.)

Institute of Languages, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Supervisor: Dr Kibuuka Balubuliza Kiingi; Co-supervisor: Prof Dr Livingstone Walusimbi
Completed: November 2007; Copyright text: 2008; Graduated: 19 January 2009

Brief description of the dissertation:

Ever since Bantu lexicography was pioneered by missionaries, colonial administrators, and linguists in the latter half of the nineteenth century, it has been intimately associated with two factors. On the one hand it has been Euro-centred, and on the other hand it has been characterized by the production of lexicographical primers, i.e. dictionaries with a low information density when it comes to the depth and detail seen in the dictionary articles. Given these problems, the aim of the MA research was to work out a theoretically well-founded methodology for the compilation of a fully-fledged general-purpose monolingual Lusoga dictionary. As an appendix to the scientific study, such a dictionary was also compiled. Taking cognizance of the importance of a clearly-defined target user group, the user was defined as one with a minimum of Primary Seven education. It was hypothesized that if challenges of compiling Bantu-centred Bantu dictionaries were to be addressed in the monolingual Lusoga dictionary, then on testing the dictionary one would achieve a 70% approval rating by the targeted group of prospective users. The dictionary was compiled according to a style manual which had been derived from a speech-act-based theory of meaning, the modularity of language, and lexicographical optimization. One of the many new features introduced as a result of the undertaken research was the choice and implementation of Bantu-centred citation forms for nouns, adjectives and verbs. The reluctance to enter class shiftable nouns and adjectives with their prefixes (as well as their pre-prefixes) and the concurrent established practice of entering verbs, nouns and adjectives under their stems was refuted. When dictionary drafts were subjected to testing on a group representative of its prospective users, the hypothesis was sustained. Compilation of the dictionary therefore proceeded within this framework. One of the recommendations of the study was that Bantu-centred approaches to Bantu lexicography should be extended to bilingual Bantu lexicography, for instance between a Bantu language and English or French, provided that, additionally, problems of anisomorphism are taken into account.

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Teaching and additional studies (7)

I have gained additional experience teaching and/or studying in the following countries:


• Kampala, Uganda
  • Period: 1997 – 1999
  • Institute: Mariam High School
  • What: Secondary School Teacher
  • Subjects taught: English Language and Literature in English
• Kigali, Rwanda
  • Period: 1999 – 2000
  • Institute: Kigali Institute of Agriculture
  • Department: English as a Foreign Language
  • What: Assistant Lecturer
• Kigali, Rwanda
  • Period: 2000 – 2001
  • Institute: Kigali Institute of Education
  • Department: English as a Foreign Language
  • What: Assistant Lecturer
• Tromsø, Norway
  • Period: 3 weeks in August 2003
  • Institute: University of Tromsø
  • Department: Centre for Women's Studies and Women in Research
  • What: Workshop on and training in researching indigenous languages, and on how this research can be used to enrich the documentation of endangered languages as well as to uplift gender awareness in the respective language contexts.
• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  • Period: 3 months, May – July 2005
  • Institute: University of Dar es Salaam
  • Department: Institute of Kiswahili Research
  • What: Research, comparison and presentation of results from an analysis of the compilation approaches used for monolingual Swahili dictionaries. This study was undertaken in order to guide my own study on Bantu lexicography, in an effort to compile the first monolingual Lusoga dictionary.
• Pretoria, South Africa
  • Period: 3 months, August – November 2005
  • Institute: University of Pretoria
  • Department: Department of African Languages
  • What:
    1. At the University of Pretoria: Research on corpus lexicography, as well as monolingual dictionary-making in Shona and Zulu
    2. Visit to Pietermaritzburg: Consultations with Prof Dr A.C. Nkabinde (former Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zululand, and author of several explanatory Zulu dictionaries) on the compilation of monolingual dictionaries for Zulu
    3. Visit to the Zulu National Lexicography Unit in Durban: Consultations with Mr M.O. Mbata (Executive Director of the Zulu NLU) on the compilation of monolingual dictionaries for Zulu
  • Outcome: This research period in South Africa helped me to share my findings about Bantu lexicography, to evaluate prior lexicographical decisions, and to formulate justifications for the decisions I eventually took in constructing the theoretical framework for my MA.
• Maputo, Mozambique
  • Period: 17 June 2008 – 26 June 2009
  • Institute: Eduardo Mondlane University
  • Department: Centro de Estudos Africanos [Centre for African Studies]
  • What: Consultant for the project: "Compilation of monolingual Bantu dictionaries for cross-border languages: Cibalke, Cimanyika, Cindawu, Cisena, Citewe, and Xichangane". I was charged with the teaching of the theory of lexicography, on which to base the compilation of monolingual Bantu dictionaries for Bantu audiences. I also supervised the planning of the compilation process and the distribution of the workload.

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Projects - Research (3)

• 'Compilation of the Monolingual Lusoga Dictionary'
• Supervisor: Dr Kibuuka Balubuliza Kiingi
• Co-supervisor: Prof Dr Livingstone Walusimbi
• Period: January 2003 – November 2007
• Funding agency: Self-funded
• Researcher: M. Nabirye
• Outcomes:
  1. MA
  2. Eiwanika ly'Olusoga [Lusoga Dictionary]
• 'CASAS Africa-wide Harmonization and Standardization of African Languages Project'
• Facilitator: Kwesi Kwa Prah
• Period: several workshops during 2006
• Funding agency: The Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS)
• What: The Ugandan languages were divided into four major groups, with Lusoga in the eastern interlacustrine Bantu region (together with Luganda, Lumasaaba, Lusamya, Lulamogi, and Lunyole). Language consultants for each of those languages were brought together and trained on how the harmonization process could be conducted.
• Consultant on Lusoga: M. Nabirye
• Outcomes:
  1. An orthography that benefits all the languages in the eastern interlacustrine Bantu region, published as CASAS Monograph No. 68.
  2. On 8 February 2010, CASAS signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ugandan National Curriculum Development Centre whereby the CASAS harmonized orthographies would form the basis for standardizing the entire mother-tongue writing system.
• 'A Corpus-based Study of the Lusoga Grammar'
• Supervisor: Prof Dr M. Meeuwis
• Co-supervisor: Prof Dr G-M de Schryver
• Period: October 2010 – September 2014
• Funding agency: Special Research Fund of Ghent University, Doctoral Grant
• Budget: 1,700 EUR, monthly
• Researcher: M. Nabirye

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Projects - Dictionaries (2)

• Eiwanika ly'Olusoga (WSG) [Lusoga Dictionary; paper version], Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda,
  2003 – 2007
• Eiwanika ly'Olusoga (e-WSG) [Lusoga Dictionary; electronic version], Ghent University, Belgium,
  2009 –

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Projects - Corpora (1)

• Lusoga (General Lusoga Corpus, GLC) – with G-M de Schryver

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Publications - Books (2)

2008  (1) Namyalo, S., L. Walusimbi, G. Bukenya, M.W. Masakala, M. Nabirye & F. Kiingi. 2008. A Unified Standard Orthography of Eastern Interlacustrine Bantu Languages (Monograph Series 68). Cape Town: The Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society.	13 pp. Paperback ISBN 978-1-920294-51-9 Publisher Link
2009  (1) Nabirye, M. 2009. Eiwanika ly'Olusoga. Eiwanika ly'aboogezi b'Olusoga n'abo abenda okwega Olusoga [A Dictionary of Lusoga. For speakers of Lusoga, and for those who would like to learn Lusoga]. Kampala: Menha Publishers.	lxviii + 636 pp. Paperback ISBN 978-9970-101-00-9 Publisher Link

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Publications - Refereed Articles (2 + 1)

2009  (2)

• Nabirye, M. 2009. Compiling the First Monolingual Lusoga Dictionary. Lexikos 19: 177–196. [IF 2009 = 0.667; Q3 in Linguistics]  pdf 281KB
• Nabirye, M. 2009. Dictionary Compilation for Mother-tongue Speakers of Bantu Languages. In Zhu, R. (ed.). 2009. Proceedings of the International Seminar on Kangxi Dictionary & Lexicology: 597–607. Beijing: Beijing Normal University.

Refereed articles in press or accepted for publication  (1)

• De Schryver, G-M & M. Nabirye. 2010. A quantitative analysis of the morphology, morphophonology and semantic import of the Lusoga noun. Africana Linguistica 16: (45 pages). [IF 2010 = ftc; Q in Linguistics]

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Publications - Abstracts (7)

2007  (1)

• Nabirye, M. 2007. The Role of Language in the Peace Building Process. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on Community-Based Peacebuilding Across Borders and Boundaries: 13–14. Kigali: InterChange.  Abstract

2008  (3)

• Nabirye, M. 2008. Learning from the History of African Language Situation. In Abstracts of the 39^th Annual Conference on African Linguistics: 48. Athens, GA: University of Georgia.
• Nabirye, M. 2008. Research on Compiling a Monolingual Lusoga Dictionary (2001-2008), Conducted at Makerere University in Uganda. In Abstracts of the 39^th Annual Conference on African Linguistics: 48. Athens, GA: University of Georgia.
• Nabirye, M. 2008. Dictionary Testing in Un-/Less Documented Languages: A Case Study of Lusoga. In AFRILEX 2008, Printed and Electronic Dictionaries and the Future, Programme & Abstracts: 35–36. Stellenbosch: Bureau of the Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal.  Abstract

2009  (3)

• Nabirye, M. 2009. Compiling Dictionaries for Monolingual Bantu Audiences. In AFRILEX-ALASA 2009 Conference Book: 34–35. Bellville: Xhosa Department, University of the Western Cape.  Abstract
• De Schryver, G-M & M. Nabirye. 2009. A corpus-driven analysis of the morphology, morphophonology and semantic import of the Lusoga noun. In AFRILEX-ALASA 2009 Conference Book: 56–57. Bellville: Xhosa Department, University of the Western Cape.  Abstract
• Nabirye, M. 2009. Categorization of Audiences for Bantu Dictionaries. In Conference Abstracts for AustraLex 2009, "Innovations in Lexicography": 5. Sydney: Macquarie University.

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Media Coverage (6)

2009  (2)

• Facebook, October 2009.
  Page dedicated to Eiwanika ly'Olusoga created.  Online
• The New Vision, 31 December 2009.
  Books: Poetry ruled — by E. Ssejjengo.  Online

2010  (4)

• Saturday Monitor, 6 February 2010, p. 22.
  Book Review: Lusoga Gets Dictionary — by Steven Tendo.  Online
• Daily Monitor, 22 February 2010, p. 13.
  Dictionaries in 3 local languages out — by Stephen Wandera. Online
• The Observer, 3 March 2010, p. 23.
  Lusoga Dictionary Printed — by David Tumusiime.  Online
• Red Pepper, March 2010.
  Book Review: Eiwanika ly'Olusoga — by Medard Aryatuha. Online

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Conference papers - Keynote & Plenary lectures (1)

2009  (1)

• Nabirye, M. Dictionary Compilation for Mother-tongue Speakers of Bantu Languages. International Seminar on Kangxi Dictionary & Lexicology, Huangcheng Village, Beiliui Town, Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province, China, 15-20 July 2009. [plenary lecture]

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Conference papers - Lectures (12)

2004  (1)

• Nabirye, M. The Role of Language in Development. The 2004 Afrikan World Encounter Conference on Building NEW Futures, Jinja, Uganda, 8-11 June 2004. [invited lecture]

2005  (2)

• Nabirye, M. How the Institute of Languages at Makerere has addressed Contemporary Problems in Bantu Lexicography. International Symposium on Kiswahili Language and Globalization, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 4-7 July 2005.
• Nabirye, M. Standardizing the Lusoga Orthography. CASAS Workshop on the Harmonization and Standardization of East African Languages, Institute of Languages, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, 12 July 2005. [invited lecture]

2007  (1)

• Nabirye, M. The Role of Language in the Peace Building Process. International Symposium on Community-based Peacebuilding Across Borders and Boundaries, Kigali, Rwanda, 6-9 November 2007. [invited lecture]

2008  (4)

• Nabirye, M. Promoting Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the Ugandan Education System. International Mother Tongue Day Celebrations, Institute of Languages, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, 18 February 2008. [invited lecture]
• Nabirye, M. Research on Compiling a Monolingual Lusoga Dictionary (2001-2008), Conducted at Makerere University in Uganda. 39^th Annual Conference on African Linguistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA, 17-20 April 2008.
• Nabirye, M. Learning from the History of African Language Situation. 39^th Annual Conference on African Linguistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA, 17-20 April 2008.
• Nabirye, M. Dictionary Testing in Un-/Less Documented Languages: A Case Study of Lusoga. 13^th International Conference of the African Association for Lexicography, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, 1-3 July 2008.

2009  (4)

• Nabirye, M. Compiling Dictionaries for Monolingual Bantu Audiences. 14^th International Conference of the African Association for Lexicography, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa, 6-8 July 2009.
• De Schryver, G-M & M. Nabirye. A corpus-driven analysis of the morphology, morphophonology and semantic import of the Lusoga noun. 15^th Biennial International Conference of the African Language Association of Southern Africa, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa, 8-10 July 2009.
• Nabirye, M. & G-M de Schryver. The Corpus-Driven Grammar of Lusoga: A Preamble. Corpus Linguistics Seminar, Institute of Languages, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, 24 September 2009. [invited lecture]
• Nabirye, M. Categorization of Audiences for Bantu Dictionaries. Annual Meeting of the Australasian Association for Lexicography, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, 16-17 November 2009.

Conference papers accepted for presentation  (N.A.)

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Attendances - Conferences (7)

• Kiswahili 2005: International Symposium on Kiswahili Language and Globalization, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 4-7 July 2005. [presented 1 paper]
• ACAL 2008: 39^th Annual Conference on African Linguistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA, 17-20 April 2008. [presented 2 papers]  Programme
• AFRILEX 2008: 13^th International Conference of the African Association for Lexicography, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, 1-3 July 2008. [presented 1 paper]  Programme
• AFRILEX 2009: 14^th International Conference of the African Association for Lexicography, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa, 6-8 July 2009. [presented 1 paper]  Programme
• ALASA 2009: 15^th Biennial International Conference of the African Language Association of Southern Africa, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa, 8-10 July 2009. [presented 1 joint paper]  Programme
• KANGXI 2009: International Seminar on Kangxi Dictionary & Lexicology, Huangcheng Village, Beiliui Town, Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province, China, 15-20 July 2009. [presented 1 plenary paper]
• AUSTRALEX 2009: Annual Meeting of the Australasian Association for Lexicography, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, 16-17 November 2009. [presented 1 paper]  Programme

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Attendances - Consultative meetings (4)

• Mpambo 2004: The 2004 Afrikan World Encounter Conference on Building NEW Futures, Jinja, Uganda, 8-11 June 2004. [presented 1 paper]
• InterChange 2007: International Symposium on Community-Based Peacebuilding Across Borders and Boundaries, Kigali, Rwanda, 6-9 November 2007. [presented 1 paper]  Programme
• International Mother Tongue Day Celebrations, Institute of Languages, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, 18 February 2008. [presented 1 paper]
• Corpus Linguistics Seminar, Institute of Languages, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, 24 September 2009. [presented 1 joint paper]

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Attendances - Workshops (4)

• KVINNFORSK 2003: Gender and Indigenous Languages Workshop, Tromsø, Norway, August 2003 – Facilitated by Lise Nordbrønd.
• CASAS Workshop on the Harmonization and Standardization of East African Languages, Institute of Languages, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, 12 July 2005 – Facilitated by Kwesi Kwa Prah. [presented 1 paper]
• AFRILEX 2008 Pre-Conference Workshop: Practical Lexical Analysis using Corpus Tools, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, 30 June 2008 – Presented by Patrick Hanks.   Programme
• AFRILEX 2009 Post-Conference Workshop: Proscription, prescription, description, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa, 8 July 2009 – Presented by Henning Bergenholtz, Sven Tarp & Rufus Gouws.

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Official visits - Dictionary units (8)

• The Sámi Dictionary Project, University of Tromsø, Norway, August 2003
• Institute of Kiswahili Research (IKR), University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May – July 2005
• Zulu National Lexicography Unit, Durban, South Africa, August – November 2005
• Bureau of the Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal (WAT), Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2 July 2008
• Dictionary Projects of the Centro de Estudos Africanos, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique, 17 June 2008 – 26 June 2009
• Dictionary Division of Oxford University Press Southern Africa (OUPSA), Cape Town, South Africa, 1 July 2009
• The Dictionary Museum of China (HCXF), Premier's Residence, Huangcheng Village, Beiliui Town, Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province, China, 17 July 2009
• Macquarie Dictionary (Macquarie), Fisher Library, University of Sydney, Australia, 16 November 2009

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Membership Associations (3)

• Mpambo Afrikan Multiversity (Mpambo), 2004 –
• InterChange – Community-based Peacebuilding (InterChange), 2007 –
• African Association for Lexicography (Afrilex), 2008 –

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Instructor at training courses (1)

• Training Course in the Compilation of Monolingual Bantu Dictionaries for Bantu Audiences, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique, 17 June 2008 – 26 June 2009 – Instructor: Minah Nabirye; Participants: 20 Mozambiquan lexicographers.

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