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  • ICNC Glossary of Key Terms - Swahili

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”.

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