Lexicography and language learning of Swahili L2 at UNIOR: the Swahili-Italian online dictionary project

Abstract

The present essay outlines the progress of a lexicography project, namely a Swahili-Italian online dictionary, which was developed at the University of Naples “L’Orientale” (henceforth UNIOR) and conceived as a useful digital tool for Italian L1 learners of Swahili in a context of renewal of the teaching/learning of Swahili at the UNIOR, encouraged by web-based distance tools and platforms. As will be explained in detail, the software of the online lexical database, first developed in the period between 2003 and 2009, is in the process of being updated with some technical and lexicographical improvements, aiming for a resource that will be increasingly user-friendly to Swahili language students, and in general to Italian-speaking learners.