ICNC Glossary of Key Terms - Swahili
The first step in creating high-quality translations in the field of civil resistance is translating key terms.
Initially, we developed a list of 91 key terms that had specific meaning in the field of civil resistance and worked with translators to translate these terms. We have subsequently expanded this list to 159 terms, and ICNC President Hardy Merriman and ICNC Senior Advisor Nicola Barrach have produced a glossary (to be published in 2019) that defines each of these terms and provides commentary on each and examples of usage.
You can see standardized translations of key terms in Swahili below.
| English | Swahili | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accomodation (as a result of civil resistance) | Maridhiano/kuafiki/makubaliano (kutokana na shinikizo) | All the three are used interchangeably. “Kutokana na shinikizo”means “due to pressure”. |
| 2 | Accommodate (as a result of civil resistance) | Kuridhia/kuafiki/ kukubaliana (kutokana na shinikizo) | The three are used interchangeably. |
| 3 | Accountability | Uwajibikaji | |
| 4 | Activist | Mwanaharakati | |
| 5 | Adversary | Mshindani | |
| 6 | Agency (human agency) | Uwakala | |
| 7 | Agent provocateur | Mhuni/mkorofi | Both are used interchangeably. |
| 8 | Ally (verb) | Kuungana/kushirikiana | |
| 9 | Ally (noun) | Kikundi/genge | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 10 | Alternative institutions | Taasisi mbadala | |
| 11 | Authoritarian rule | Utawala wa kiimla / utawala wa mabavu | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 12 | Authority | Mamlaka | |
| 13 | Backlash | Kibao kugeuka | |
| 14 | Backfire (verb) | Neno kumrudi mtu /kugeuza kibao | |
| 15 | Backfire (noun) | Mtego wa panya /kugeuziwa kibao | Both are used interchangeably though the latter is informal though more often used that the former. |
| 16 | Banners | Mabango | |
| 17 | Blockade (associated with civil resistance) (noun) | Kuzuia njia (kunakoambatana na nguvu ya umma) | |
| 18 | Blockade (associated with civil resistance) (verb) | Kuzuia njia (kunakoambatana na nguvu ya umma) | |
| 19 | Boycott (noun) | Mgomo/susio | Both are used interchangeably. |
| 20 | Boycott (verb) | Kugoma/kususa/kususia | All the three are used interchangeably, but differ in sentence structure: “kugoma” and “kususa” are followed by a verb whereas “kususia” is followed by a noun. For instance “kugoma/kususa kuingia darasani” but “kususia masomo”. Here “kuingia darasani” mean to enter classes” while “masomo” means “studies”. |
| 21 | Campaign (associated with civil resistance) (noun) | Kampeni (inayohamasishwa na nguvu ya umma) | |
| 22 | Campaign (verb) | Kufanya kampeni | |
| 23 | Capacity | Uwezo/nguvu | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 24 | Civil disobedience | Uvunjifu wa sheria/ukiukwaji wa sheria | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 25 | Civil resistance | Nguvu ya umma | |
| 26 | Civil society | Asasi ya kiraia | |
| 27 | Civilian-based defense | Raia kujilinda | |
| 28 | Coalition | Mseto | |
| 29 | Commission, tactic(s) or act(s) of | Mbinu ya (za) kufanya vitendo vya fedheha | “ya” of (singular), “za” of (plural) |
| 30 | Concentration, tactic(s) of | Mbinu ya (za) kufanya mikusanyiko isiyo halali | “ya” of (singular), “za” of (plural) |
| 31 | Conditions | Masharti | |
| 32 | Consent (political) (noun) | Utii bila shuruti (kwenye siasa) | |
| 33 | Consent (political) (verb) | Kuruhusu/kutoa kibali/kutoa baraka (kwenye siasa) | The three are used interchangeably. |
| 34 | Conflict (noun) | Mgogoro/mgongano | Both are used interchangeably |
| 35 | Constructive programme (or “constructive program”) | Programu ya maendeleo | |
| 36 | Conversion | Maridhiano/makubaliano/maafikiano | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 37 | Coup d’etat (or “coup”) | Mapinduzi ya kijeshi/mapinduzi ya serikali | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 38 | Crackdown (noun) | Nguvu nyingi kutumika | |
| 39 | Crackdown (verb) | Kutumia nguvu nyingi | |
| 40 | Defect (associated with civil resistance) (verb) | Kumezea mate (kunakoambatana na nguvu ya raia wenye hasira kali) | |
| 41 | Defection | Umezeaji mate (unakoambatana na nguvu ya raia wenye hasira kali) | |
| 42 | Demonstration | Maandamano/mgomo | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 43 | Dictatorship | Udikteta | |
| 44 | Dilemma action | Mwenye nguvu kutochukua hatua za kuzimisha maandamano | |
| 45 | Direct action | Kujichukulia maamuzi sahihi | |
| 46 | Disintegration (associated with civil resistance) | Utengano (kutokana na nguvu ya umma) | |
| 47 | Dispersion, tactics of | Mbinu za kutawanyika katika kudai haki | |
| 48 | Disrupt | Kuzuia shughuli kufanyika /kukatiza shughuli | Both are used interchangeably though the latter is more used in Kenya |
| 49 | Dissent (noun) | Kutofautiana kimawazo/kupinga | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 50 | Dissident | Mpinzani | |
| 51 | Disruption | Kusimama kwa jambo | |
| 52 | Dynamics (of civil resistance) | Mienendo (ya nguvu ya umma) | |
| 53 | Empower | Kuwezesha | |
| 54 | Empowerment | Uwezeshaji | |
| 55 | Escalate (in conflict) (verb) | Kupamba moto / kuchukua sura mpya (kwenye mgogoro) | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 56 | Escalation (in conflict) (noun) | Kupamba moto / kuchukua sura mpya (kwenye mgogoro) | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 57 | External actor | mdau wa nje | |
| 58 | External support | Msaada kutoka nje | |
| 59 | Failure (associated with civil resistance) | Kushindwa (kunakoambatana na nguvu ya umma) | |
| 60 | Frame (communication) (verb) | Kuegemea upande fulani (kwenye habari) | |
| 61 | Frame (communication) (noun) | Kuegemea upande fulani (kwenye habari) | |
| 62 | Freedom (political) | Uhuru (kwenye siasa) | |
| 63 | Freedom of Assembly | Uhuru wa kukusanyika/uhuru wa kukutana | |
| 64 | Freedom of Association | Uhuru wa kuungana | |
| 65 | Freedom of Speech (or freedom of expression) | Uhuru wa kuongea | |
| 66 | Goal | Lengo/kusudi/dhumuni/dhima/dhamira | Both are used interchangeably in the same context though “dhima” and “dhamira” also refer to “mission”. |
| 67 | Grassroots (adjective) | a ngazi ya chini | |
| 68 | Grassroots (noun) | wananchi wa kawaida | |
| 69 | Grand strategy | Mkakati mkuu | |
| 70 | Grievances | Manung’uniko, fadhaa | |
| 71 | Human rights defender (HRD) | Mtetezi wa haki za binadamu | |
| 72 | Leadership | Uongozi | |
| 73 | Legitimacy | Uhalali | |
| 74 | Loyalty shift | Kubadilika kwa uungwaji wa mkono | |
| 75 | Mass demonstration | Maandamano makubwa | |
| 76 | Mechanisms of change | Vichocheo vya mabadiliko | |
| 77 | Methods of nonviolent action | Mbinu za kudai haki kwa njia ya amani | |
| 78 | Marches | Maandamano / kuingia barabarani | Maandamano” is formal, “kuingia barabarani” is informal but both are found in literature especially in newspapers. |
| 79 | Mobilization | Kukutana/kuwa na sauti moja | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 80 | Mobilizing | Kukutana/kuwa na sauti moja | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 81 | Movement | Vuguvugu | |
| 82 | Nonviolent (or non-violent) | Bila uvunjifu wa amani | |
| 83 | Noncooperation | Kutotoa ushirikiano /mgomo baridi | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 84 | Nonviolent action | Kitendo kisicho cha uvunjifu wa amani | |
| 85 | Nonviolent coercion | Kudai haki kwa mamlaka ya juu kwa nguvu au kutoa vitisho | |
| 86 | Nonviolent conflict | Mgogoro baridi /Mgogoro wa chinichini | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 87 | Nonviolent direct action | Kufanya maamuzi sahihi | |
| 88 | Nonviolent discipline | Maandamano ya amani | |
| 89 | Nonviolence (religious, ethical, etc.) | Kudai haki kwa njia ya amani (kwa njia ya dini, kimaadili, nk) | |
| 90 | Nonviolent intervention | Kuingilia kati kwa njia ya amani | |
| 91 | Nonviolent struggle | Mapambano ya kudai haki kwa amani /nguvu ya umma | The latter is used when nonviolent struggle means civil resistance |
| 92 | Obedience | Utii | |
| 93 | Obey | Kutii | |
| 94 | Objective (noun) | Lengo/kusudi/dhumuni/dhima/dhamira | Both are used interchangeably in the same context though “dhima” and “dhamira” also refer to “mission”. |
| 95 | Omission, act(s) or tactic(s) of | Mbinu ya (za) kufanya mgomo baridi au kugoma kutekeleza agizo au sheria | “ya” of (singular), “za” of (plural) |
| 96 | Opponents | Wapinzani/washindani | Both are used interchangeably though the former is only used to refer to politicians |
| 97 | Opposition groups | Makundi ya upinzani | |
| 98 | Organizer | Kinara | |
| 99 | Parallel institution | Taasisi mbadala | |
| 100 | People of support | Watoa msaada wa haki | |
| 101 | Pillars of support | Mihimili ya utoaji misaada | |
| 102 | Plan (noun) | Mpango | |
| 103 | Plan (verb) | Kupanga malengo | |
| 104 | Political defiance | Mkakati wa kudai haki bila kuvunja sheria | |
| 105 | Political ju-jitsu | Kugeuziwa kibao na mtu wa chini kisiasa /mtego wa panya kwenye siasa | Both are used interchangeably. |
| 106 | |||
| 107 | Political noncooperation | Kuachana na siasa/Kususia siasa | Both are used interchangeably. |
| 108 | Political power | Nguvu ya kisiasa | |
| 109 | People power | Nguvu ya umma | |
| 110 | Power | Nguvu | |
| 111 | Power holder | Mwenye mamlaka/mwenye nguvu | Both are used interchangeably. |
| 112 | Planning | Kuweka mipango | |
| 113 | Pragmatic non violence | Kudai haki kwa amani | |
| 114 | Protest (Noun) | Mgomo/pingamizi/maandamano | The three are used interchangeably. |
| 115 | Protest (verb) | Kupinga/kugoma | Both are used interchangeably. |
| 116 | Rally (noun) | Mkutano wa siasa wenye nia ovu | |
| 117 | Resistance movement | Vuguvugu la upinzani | |
| 118 | Repress | Kulazimisha/kukamatakamata/ kutoa vitisho | The three are used interchangeably. |
| 119 | Repression | Kulazimisha/Kamatakamata/ vitisho | The three are used interchangeably. |
| 120 | Resilience | Uvumilivu/urejesho | Both are used interchangeably though the former denotes more “persistence/tolerance” while the latter denotes largely “recovery” following demobilzation caused by repression |
| 121 | Revolution (social, political, or economic) | Mapinduzi (kijamii, kisiasa au kiuchumi) | |
| 122 | Sanctions | Vikwazo | |
| 123 | Self-determination | Kujitawala/ kujiendesha | Both are used interchangeably |
| 124 | Self-organize | Kujisimamia | |
| 125 | Self-organization | Kujisimamia | |
| 126 | Self-reliance | Kujitegemea | |
| 127 | Skills (in civil resistance context) | Maarifa | |
| 128 | Sources of power | Vyanzo vya nguvu za kisiasa | |
| 129 | Strategic nonviolent struggle | Kudai haki kwa njia ya amani kimkakati | |
| 130 | Semi-authoritarian rule | Utawala wa kimabavu mabavu /Udikteta uchwara | Both are used interchangeably |
| 131 | Self-rule | Kujitawala | |
| 132 | Sit-in | Mgomo baridi | |
| 133 | Student Strikes | Migomo ya Wanafunzi | |
| 134 | Strategic plan | Mpango mkakati | |
| 135 | Strategize | Kupanga mikakati | |
| 136 | Strategy | Mkakati | |
| 137 | Strike (noun) | Mgomo | |
| 138 | Strike (associated with civil resistance) (verb) | Kugoma (kunakoambatana na nguvu ya raia) | |
| 139 | Structural conditions (see also conditions) | Masharti ya kimuundo | The words in brackets were not translated here |
| 140 | Success | Mafanikio | |
| 141 | Tactics | Mbinu | |
| 142 | Tactical innovation | Matumizi ya mbinu mbalimbali katika kudai haki | |
| 143 | Tactics of commission | Kufanya vitendo viovu/kufanya vitendo vya uvunjifu wa amani | Both are used interchangeably |
| 144 | Tactics of concentration (see also Concentration, tactics of) | Mbinu za kufanya mikusanyiko | The words in brackets were not translated here |
| 145 | Tactics of dispersion (see also Dispersion, tactics of) | Mbinu za kutawanyika katika kudai haki | The words in brackets were not translated here |
| 146 | Tactics of omission | Mbinu za migomo baridi | |
| 147 | Tactical sequencing | Mwendelezo wa mbinu mbalimbali za kudai haki kwa njia ya amani | |
| 148 | Third party (or “third-party”) | Mtu wa tatu/mtu wa pembeni/Mshirika mwingine | The latter is used in Kenya |
| 149 | Train | Fundisha/toa mafunzo | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 150 | Training | Mafunzo | |
| 151 | Unarmed Insurrection | Vuguvugu la kudai haki kwa amani | |
| 152 | Unite | Kuungana | |
| 153 | Unity | Umoja | |
| 154 | Uprising | Maandamano kwa kutumia nguvu au amani/kukabiliana/gasia/uvumo | All four are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 155 | Violence | Ghasia/Uvumo/Ubabavu | These words can be used distictly depending on contexts |
| 156 | Violent Flank | Kundi ovu/genge ovu | Both are used interchangeably in the same context. |
| 157 | Vision (of a civil resistance movement) | Dira (ya vuguvugu la maandamano) | |
| 158 | Walk-out (or “walkout”) (noun) | Kutoka nje/susio/kujiondokea | The three are used interchangeably. |
| 159 | Walk-out (verb) | Kutoka nje/kususa/kususia/kujiondokea | The four are used interchangeably though “kususa” is followed by a verb whereas “kususia” is followed by a noun. For instance “kususa kuendelea na kikao cha bunge” but “kususia kikao cha Bunge”. Here “kuendelea na” mean to continue with while “kikao cha Bunge” mean Parliamentary or legislative session”. |