MSCE Chichewa flashcards

31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Penultimate stress

In Chichewa, the strongest stress in a word falls on the second-to-last syllable, as in chi-PEN-go and ka-MUN-da.

Five Chichewa vowels

Chichewa has exactly five vowel sounds: a, e, i, o, u. Each is pronounced clearly and does not reduce to a schwa in unstressed positions.

Subject marker agreement

The verb prefix must match the noun class of the subject: mtengo u-ku-wona, nyumba i-ku-wona, chinthu chi-ku-wona.

Verb tense markers

Chichewa verbs carry tense prefixes: -ma- for habitual, -na- for past, -ku- for present, -dzi- for future, and -ka- for near future.

Negation with si-

Negative verbs use the prefix si- plus vowel changes: ndimawona becomes sindiwona, and ndinawona becomes sindinawona in the past.

Noun class 1/2

Class 1/2 pairs singular and plural for people: munthu (person) becomes anthu (people), and mwana (child) becomes ana (children).

Noun class 7/8

Class 7/8 covers things: chinthu (thing) becomes zinthu (things), and chakudya (food) takes chi- in singular and zi- in plural.

Main idea location

In Chichewa expository passages, the main idea usually appears in the first or last sentence of a paragraph rather than in the middle.

Cause and effect markers

Words such as chifukwa (because), chifukwa chake (therefore), motero, and potero link a reason to its result in a passage.

Skimming versus scanning

Skimming means reading headings and first sentences for overall meaning; scanning means hunting for a specific number, name, or date without reading everything.

Context clue strategy

When an unknown word appears, the surrounding words and sentences often reveal its meaning, so the whole sentence should be read before guessing.

Formal letter structure

A formal Chichewa letter contains the sender's address, date, recipient's address, greeting, subject heading, body, and closing thanks.

Composition three parts

A Chichewa composition has chiyambi (introduction), thupi (body with several supported points), and chimaliziro (conclusion).

Summary rule

A summary keeps only the main points of the original passage and excludes the writer's personal opinions or new examples.

Connectors in letters

Phrases such as Mwachifundo, Mwachidule, Pomaliza, and Ndikukupemphani signal a change of section within a formal letter.

Protagonist and antagonist

The protagonist is the character the story centers on, while the antagonist blocks the protagonist's goals and creates the central conflict.

Theme of a book

The theme is the central idea of a literary work, such as chikondi (love), chinyengo (deception), or kulimba mtima (courage).

Indirect characterization

A character is revealed through their own words, their actions, and how other characters describe them, rather than by direct description.

Short story shape

A short story usually has one central scene and may end abruptly without resolving every detail, unlike a full novel.

Poetry features

Chichewa ndakatulo (poetry) is built on lines and stanzas, and its main devices are rhythm, repetition, and vivid imagery.

Gule Wamkulu

Gule Wamkulu is a masked dance tradition associated with the Chewa people, performed at ceremonies and linked to Nyau society.

Marriage stages

Traditional Chichewa marriage includes chikwere (negotiation between families), the taking of the bride, and a celebration, with order varying by ethnic group.

Respect customs

Respect toward elders is shown by kneeling or bowing, avoiding direct use of a senior's personal name, and using respectful address forms.

Hospitality custom

Offering a guest water and food is a core sign of ulemu (respect) in Chichewa culture, and refusing outright can be seen as rude.

Loanword adaptation

Borrowed words such as basi (bus), sukulu (school), and moto (car) follow Chichewa noun-class and verb-agreement rules once adopted.

Polysemy example

A single Chichewa word can carry several meanings; kuyenda can describe a person walking or time passing, depending on context.

Connotation strength

Words with similar meanings differ in force: wamisala is harsher than wosokonezeka maganizo, so word choice affects tone.

Verb to noun derivation

Chichewa verbs form nouns with class prefixes: -phunzira gives wophunzira (learner), and -lankhula gives kulankhula (speaking).

Discourse markers

Markers such as ndipo, koma, chifukwa chake, pamenepo, and potero signal a shift or link in a speaker's argument during listening.

Greeting a meeting

A formal Chichewa speech follows moni, statement of the matter, main points, and closing thanks, in that order.

Idiom meaning

An idiom such as kugwetsa mawu must be understood as a whole phrase; translating it word by word gives the wrong meaning.