Fluency and coherence

Fluency in Swahili

Fluency refers to the smoothness or flow with which sounds, syllables, words and phrases are joined together when speaking.
Swahili speech should be fluid and uninterrupted, without a lot of pauses or “uh”s and “um”s.
Learning and using suitable transitional phrases or connectors can assist in maintaining fluency. These may include terms like ‘lakini’ (but), ‘kwa hiyo’ (therefore), ‘na’ (and), ‘au’ (or), etc.
Swahili words should not be pronounced in isolation. Rather, they should be connected in a string of speech, with the end of one word leading naturally to the beginning of the next.
Fast speaking is not equivalent to fluent speaking. It’s more important to be comprehensible and accurate than to rush.
Regular practice and conversation can help achieve fluency. Try engage in speaking Swahili as much as possible, it may be with classmates, teachers or using language learning apps.

Coherence involves organising ideas logically and appropriately. It ensures the ideas fit together, so they make sense to the listener.
When speaking in Swahili, try to keep your thoughts organised. Plan what you want to say and how you want to say it.
Using signposting language can assist in ensuring coherence. These are words or phrases that guide the listener through the speech, such as ‘kwanza’ (first), ‘pili’ (second), ‘mwisho’ (finally), etc.
To ensure coherence at the sentence level, pay attention to grammatical rules and sentence structures. Use correct verb tenses and maintain subject-verb agreement.
Always stay on topic. It’s easy to lose coherence when wandering off-topic, forcing the listener to work harder to understand the message.
Coherence also relies on using contextually appropriate language. Tailor your language use to the subject, purpose and audience of your conversation.