Nobert Basweti

An experienced researcher and lecturer in linguistics and communication. I have a PhD in Linguistics from the Stellenbosch University, South Africa and a BA and MA in Linguistics from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. My current affiliation is the Department of Linguistics and Languages at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Working Experience

August 2023 to date Lecturer, Department of Linguistics and Languages, University of Nairobi

Duties:

• Teaching  Linguistics courses to Bachelor of Education(Arts), Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (Linguistics) courses: Grammatical theories( to Masters’ students); Basic Phonetics and Phonology, Modern English Syntax etc (to Bachelors’ students)
• Supervision of Doctoral Students in the Departments of Linguistics and Languages, Library and Information Science, and the African Women Studies PhD program in Department of Sociology and Social Work.
• Member of the University of Nairobi Timetabling committee
• Member of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, mentorship Committee 
• Chairman of the Faculty of Arts and social Sciences Timetabling Committee
• Coordinator, Seminars and research related activities at the Department of Linguistics and Languages

August 2022 to date Lecturer, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Nairobi

Duties:

• Teaching  CPC 903 (Advanced Research Methods) to the Library and Information Science PhD class, CIS 106 (information Marketing and Public Relations), CIS 103 (Information Technology), CIS 307 (Digital Technology and Applications)
• Supervision of Doctoral Students in the Department of Library and Information Science and the African Women Studies PhD program in Department of Sociology and Social Work.
• Member of the University of Nairobi Timetabling committee
• Chairman of the Faculty of Arts and social Sciences Timetabling Committee
• Examination officer in the Department of Library and Information Science
• Alumni Champion in charge of Alumni affairs of the Department of Library and Information Science

October 2021 to July 2022 Tutorial Fellow, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Nairobi (Redeployment)

Duties:

• Teaching communication skills to students in various Faculties: Arts, Science and Technology, Education, Engineering, Agriculture,  Business and Management Sciences & Built Environment
• Teaching CPC 903 (Advanced Research Methods) to the Library and Information Science PhD class and CIS 106 (information Marketing and Public Relations)
• Supervision of Doctoral Students in the Department of Library and Information Science and the African Women Studies PhD program in Department of Sociology and Social Work.
• Member of the University of Nairobi Timetabling committee
• Chairman of the Faculty of Arts and social Sciences Timetabling Committee
• Examination officer in the Department of Library and Information Science
• Alumni Champion in charge of Alumni affairs of the Department of Library and Information Science

July 2007- October 2021: Tutorial Fellow, Department of Communication Skills and Studies, University of Nairobi

Duties:

• Teaching communication and leaning skills to students in various Faculties/Schools: Arts, Biological & Physical Sciences, Education, Continuing & Distance Education, Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine, Journalism & Mass Communication, Business and Diplomacy & International Studies. 
• Teaching Linguistics and Communication courses on part-time basis at the Department of Linguistics and Languages where I have previously taught CLC 112 (A Communicative Grammar of English), CLE 101 (History and Varieties of English) CLC 301 (Organizational Communication) and CLC 212 (Public Speaking) for the Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics, and Language and Communication programme) and BLL 301 (Syntax), BLL 308 (Semantics),BLE 406 (Pragmatics) for the Bachelor of Education(Arts-External degree programme).                                                           
• Coordinating the teaching of Communication Skills (CCS 001) throughout the different faculties and schools the university under the Board of Common Undergraduate Courses (BCUC) of the University 
• Member of the Faculty of Arts Research, Seminars and Publications Committee.
• Departmental Web Champion responsible for update of departmental website and coordinating all ICT academic related issues.
• Setting, invigilating and marking examinations.

January to July 2006: English Editorial Assistant, Longhorn Kenya Ltd, Nairobi, Kenya. 

Duties:

• Editing English and Literature manuscripts ranging from class readers to course books for primary and secondary schools, and colleges
• Proofreading manuscripts in the production process
• Receiving and evaluating manuscripts for publication

June 2004 to August 2005:Creative Arts Editorial Assistant, Longhorn Kenya Ltd, Nairobi, Kenya. 

Duties:

• Editing Creative works like novels, novellas, plays and literature guide books
• Proofreading manuscripts in the production process
• Receiving and evaluating manuscripts for publication

Other Administrative Responsibilities 

• Member, University of Nairobi Steering Committee on Automation of Teaching Scheduling and Timetabling (March 21st 2022 to May 13th 2022).
• Member University of Nairobi Senate Timetabling and Scheduling Committee, representing Faculty of Arts (November 2021 to November 2024).
• Alumni Champion, Department of Library and Information Science (November 2021 to November 2023).
• Member, Seminars and Publications Committee, Faculty of Arts (December 2018 to date).
• University of Nairobi Liaison and Coordinator, Philippine-Kenyan Education Network (PEN), a collaboration of Philippine and Kenyan Universities (Jan 2021 to date)
• Coordinator, Partnership for Africa’s Next Generation of Academics (PANGeA)-ED training skills Programme at the University of Nairobi for the PANGeA secretariat (March 2019 to date). 
• Member, Space Committee, Faculty of Arts (June 2019 to date)
• Chairman, Parents Teachers Association, Advent Hill Primary School
• Member, Board of Management, Advent Hill Primary School
• Head of Religious Liberty, Merisho Central SDA Church

Professional Trainings

• UNESCO-IFAP Training Workshop on Ethical Issues of Information in East Africa (2020)
• Mixed Research methods by PANGeA at University of Nairobi, (2019)
• Academic and Scientific Writing Skills by Stellenbosch University (2016)
• Research and Grant Proposal Writing by University of Nairobi Enterprises & Services Limited (February 2012)
• Implementation of ISO 9001: 2000 by Quality Management Systems (February 2007)
• I choose Life HIV/AIDS Peer Education Training by I choose Life Africa (2002)

Professional Societies/Memberships

• Language Association of Eastern Africa
• Communication and Media Network
• Linguistic Society of Southern Africa
• Philippine-Kenyan Education Network
• American Pragmatics Association
• The African Journal of Social Transformation (AJST) Editorial Board 
• Journal of Linguistics, Translation and Communication Editorial Board

Trainings

• Pedagogy(4-5th Dec 2023) World Bank/Kenya School of Government
• Systematic Review Course by AgriFoSe2030 and University of Nairobi (Sept 28th and Nov 9th, 2021)
•  UNESCO-IFAP Training Workshop on Ethical Issues of Information in East Africa (14th -15th December 2020)
•  Mixed Research Methods Training organized by the Partnership for Africa’s Next Generation of Academics (PANGeA) ED skills training program in conjunction with the PANGeA Secretariat, Stellenbosch University at the University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya (28th to 30th May 2019)
• two-day training on Teaching Methodology and Test Development at Marist International College, Constituent College of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya (12th to 13th September 2008).

Workshops and Conferences and Activities Attended

• 4th to 5th December Social Risk and Impact Management Workshop on facilitation pedagogy for Adult learners, Chaired by Steffen of World Bank at Kenya School of Government, Lower Kabete.
• 26th to 28th October 2022 Information Science Conference 2022: ‘Dynamics in Cultural Heritage. Organising Committee member and Rapporteur for the UNESCO sponsored conference. 
• 18th to 20th September 2022 British Academy Writing Workshop ‘Eroding dichotomies: description, analysis and publishing in African languages’, Stellenbosch, South Africa
• 9th April 2021 Attended and participated in the Action Research in Action Webinar Co-organised by Negros Oriental Private Schools Organisation (NOPSO), Silliman Online University Learning (SOUL), Negros Island Teachers Education Synergy (NITES), Philippine-Kenyan, Education Network (PEN)and Korea Council of Overseas Schools (KORCOS)
• 25th January 2021 As webinar co-organizer, made closing remarks on Recovering and Revitalizing Education for the Covid-19 Generation during the1st Philippine-Kenya Education Network Webinar on Teacher Education hosted by the University of Nairobi
• 30th July 2020 Attended and participated in the virtual Global Peace Leadership Conference 2020 Africa
• 12th April 2019: Presented a seminar paper: ‘A pragma-dialectical inquiry into the resolution of medical disputes in the Gusii doctor-patient consultations involving patients with non-communicable conditions’ during the Department of Language and Literature Education Seminal Presentation) at Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology, Kakamega, Kenya.
• 11th April 2019: Presented a workshop paper on ‘Getting your article published: From submission to post publication, during a Research Workshop on Writing Articles for Publication Organised by Directorate of Research & Postgraduate Support (DRPS) at Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology, Kakamega, Kenya.
• 20th to 22nd February 2019: Attended the 1st International Mother Language Day Conference 2019 at Kenyatta University, Kitui Campus, Kenya and presented a paper: Exploring the pragma-dialectical role of mother language in reconciling traditional medicine and conventional medicine in resolving disputes in the Gusii medical consultation involving patients with non-communicable conditions.
• 1st to 3rd November 2018:  Attended the 4th International Conference of the American Pragmatic Association (AMPRA4) at University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, USA between 1st to 3rd November and presented my paper ‘The pragma-dialectics of doctor-patient consultations: The nexus between traditional Gusii illness belief system vis a vis contemporary medicine’
• 3rd July 2018:  Attended the International Congress of Linguists (ICL20) at Cape Town International Conference Centre, Cape Town, South Africa on and presented a paper ‘Communication accommodation and appraisal in strategic manoeuvring in doctor-Patient consultations: a pragma-dialectical account’.
• 20th May 2016: Attended a one-day workshop on Theory and You! A bluffer’s journey– organised by the National Institute of Humanities and Social Science (NIHSS) Regional Workshops, as part of NIHSS Doctoral Mentoring Programme in 2016, at the University of Western Cape, South Africa.
• 11th March 2016: Attended a one-day workshop on Demystifying ‘Originality’: A Case Study –hosted by the National Institute of Humanities and Social Science (NIHSS) Regional Workshops, as part of NIHSS Doctoral Mentoring Programme in 2016, at the University of Western Cape, South Africa. 
• 13th to 15th May 2009: Attended a University of Nairobi Senate Retreat representing the Chairperson, Department of Communication Skills and Studies, at the Great Rift Valley Lodge, Naivasha, Kenya. The theme of the Retreat was Branding the University of Nairobi
• 23RD October 2008: attended a one-day workshop at the University of Nairobi on ‘Sexuality and Identity in Contemporary Kenya’ organized by the Population Council and the Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
• September 2007: attended a two-day workshop at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa on the Pedagogy of Teaching at the University organised by the university’s faculty of Education, in Nairobi, Kenya.
• 17th to 18th March 2005:  attended a DAAD International Conference at the university of Nairobi, Kenya whose theme was: Across Borders: Benefiting from cultural Differences

Consultancies

October 2023 to date Consultant, World Bank/ University of Nairobi and Kenya School of Government Social Risk Impact Management Module development Program SRIM Deep Dive Modules Development Program

 13th July to 30th July 2021 Editor, Annual Report 2020, ActionAid International Kenya (AAIK)

                                             Key Task

• Edit, copyedit and proof-read the annual report and produce a final version that will be ready for design and publication.
• Review and edit the report for the content and flow 
• Edit the report’s chapters and narrative sections with a view to ensure: clarity and continuity of the argument or focus of the report; clarity of structure and core themes of the report; internal consistency, both analytical and stylistic. 3.2.4 Align content page numbering with the body of the reports. 
• Ensure there is flow and clarity of argument, sequencing, consistency, especially between text and tables and figures and integration of text and boxes, content errors, style and punctuation, spelling and grammar. 
• Ensure that the statistical data used and referenced in the text are consistent with the data in the respective tables, figures, charts and maps. 

April 2021                         Editor, Gender Mapping and WEAI for The Integrated Climate Smart Bean Production Report for Leadegde Consultants

                                                  Duties and responsibilities

• Editing, cleaning and proof reading the document

October -December 2020 Consultant under the “Gender Inclusive Vaccine Ecosystem (GIVE) Project” implemented jointly by the University of Nairobi (UON), Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK) and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), collectively referred to as implementing organizations.

                                                   Duties and responsibilities

                                                1. Reviewed 4 training manuals and provided specific guidance and advice on the pedagogical aspects in the training for farmers. 

                                                2. Provided guidance/plan on how best to undertake the pre-test and participated in the actual pretest with the community and provided guidance and input on how best to deliver the information from a pedagogical perspective. 

                                                3. Reviewed the revised manuals based on the findings from the pre-test 

March 2020                          Editor, Rapid Baseline and Gender Assessment in the Kenyan Tea Sector Report for Kenya Tea Development Authority Foundation & Ethical Tea Partnership (KTDA-ETP)

                                                   Duties and responsibilities

• Editing, cleaning and proof reading the document

July 2019                                 Editor, Draft Report on Youth Economic Inclusion and Status of Primary Co-operatives and Saccos in the Counties of Narok and Kakamega, February-April 2019 for Co-operative University of Kenya

                                                   Duties and responsibilities

• Editing, cleaning,  proof reading and typesetting the document

April 2015                        Editor, Ethiopia Second Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for The Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in conjunction with GEO-ENVI Solutions International (GSI), Nairobi 

                                                     Duties and responsibilities

• Editing, cleaning and proof reading the document

April 2015                           Trainer, Customer Care and Public Relations Training for University of Nairobi Enterprises and the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Nairobi at Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library, Nairobi

December 2013                      Editor of the Africa Coordinating Centre for Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (ACCAF) Newsletter, for the College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi in conjunction with USAID and UNFPA

                                                   Duties and responsibilities

• Research and gather relevant information from asset of documents
• Write, edit and format the newsletter in conjunction with the Coordinator of the African Coordinating Centre for the Abandonment of FGM/C
• Proofread the final copy of the newsletter for printing.

2011 (June 10 to Oct 31)   Research Coordinator, Rapid Assessment of the Most at Risk Populations on HIV & AIDS (RARE study) in South Sudan. A USAID-Ministry of Health of the Government of South Sudan joint funding study 

                                                    Duties and responsibilities

• Coordinating field research in Juba, Yei and Kaya towns.
• Training research assistants 
• Coding and analyzing the data.
• Writing the report
• Editing and Proofreading the final report
•  Managing communications and translations 

Publications

• Basweti N.O. & Visser, M. (Forthcoming) Argumentative patterns in Gusii medical consultations. 
• Basweti N.O. (Forthcoming) Strategic manoeuvring in doctor-patient consultations: pragma-dialectical negotiation between traditional Gusii sociocultural belief system on illness and conventional medicine 
• Basweti N.O. (Forthcoming) eHealth and mHealth communication interventions in health literacy programs targeting patients with chronic conditions: A narrative review
• Basweti N.O. (Forthcoming) Exploring the pragma-dialectical role of mother language in reconciling traditional medicine and conventional medicine in medical disputes in the Gusii medical consultation involving patients with non-communicable conditions. International Mother Language Day Conference Proceedings
• Judi Mesman, Nobert Basweti & Joseph Misati (2021) Sensitive infant caregiving among the rural Gusii in Kenya, Attachment & Human Development, 23:2, 124-133, 
• Judi Mesman, Nobert Basweti & Joseph Misati (2018): Sensitive infant caregiving among the rural Gusii in Kenya, Attachment & Human Development, pp 1-9. 
• Basweti N. O., et al. 2015. Ekegusii DP and its Sentential Symmetry: A Minimalist Inquiry. Language and Linguistics 2(2)93-107
• Basweti, N.O. et al. (2014) The Ekegusii Determiner Phrase Analysis in the Minimalist Program. International Journal of Linguistics and Communication. 2(3):85-105.

Postgraduate Supervisions

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            Ongoing PhD Supervision

•  Gitu Susan Wangari (Ongoing) A Pragmatic Analysis of Impoliteness in Computer-mediated Communication: A Case Study of Facebook Use in Kenya. PhD in Linguistics, University of Nairobi(C80/55769/2019) Successfully defended proposal
• Mumo Angela Mbula (Ongoing) Integration of Indigenous knowledge practices into Library and Information Science Curriculum (LIS) for Environmental Sustainability by Institution of Higher Learning (IHL): A study of selected LIS schools in Kenya. PhD in Information Science, University of Nairobi (C80/56669/2020) Proposal stage
• Nenkai Michelle Nthumba (Ongoing) Does the quality of healthcare worker communication affect the outcome of cesarean section patients – A case study of AIC Kijabe Hospital. PhD in African Women Studies, University of Nairobi (C85/54398/2019) Successfully defended proposal

Ongoing MA supervisions

• Mokaya Dianah Kwamboka (Ongoing). Linguistic variation in Ekegusii:  A Labovian analysis of the age factor. MA Linguistics and African languages, University of Nairobi (C50/41431/2021) proposal stage
• Joyline Tjarehe. (Ongoing). Implications of Covid-19 in service provision to postgraduate master students at the University of Namibia Library. MA Library and Information Science, University of Nairobi. proposal stage

Completed MA supervisions

• Lisper W. Mwai (2022) A Relevance Theoretical Analysis of Gikuyu Radio advertisements. MA Linguistics and African languages, University of Nairobi 
• Miringu, P. W. (2020) The Persuasive Devises in William Ruto’s Political Speeches.MA Linguistics and African languages, University of Nairobi 
• Momanyi, E. (2019) A Cognitive Analysis of Ekegusii Riddles. MA Linguistics and African languages, University of Nairobi
• Omoke, N. J. (2012) A Lexical Pragmatic Analysis of the Sense Relations in EkeGusii. MA Linguistics and African languages, University of Nairobi

Jan 2016 to 2018: PhD in African Languages (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) 

Thesis Title: Argumentation in Doctor-Patient Consultations in EkeGusii: A Pragma-Dialectical Approach

Sep 2003 to Dec 2005: MA in Linguistics and African Languages (University of Nairobi, Kenya)

Thesis title: A Morphosyntactic Analysis of Agreement in Ekegusii in the Minimalist Program

Sep 1998 to Dec 2002: Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics (major), Literature (major) and Political Science (minor)- Hons (University of Nairobi, Kenya)

Jan 2016 to 2018: PhD in African Languages (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) 

Thesis Title: Argumentation in Doctor-Patient Consultations in EkeGusii: A Pragma-Dialectical Approach

My doctoral research project contextualised the use of strategic manoeuvring and communication accommodation in empirical doctor-patient argumentative discourse /data in Ekegusii, a Bantu language, in medial consultation simulations conducted in a public hospital in Western Kenya. The study explored the communicative manoeuvres transcending the institution of Gusii sociocultural traditional belief system on illness, and that of conventional/western medicine.

Sep 2003 to Dec 2005: MA in Linguistics and African Languages (University of Nairobi, Kenya)

Thesis title: A Morphosyntactic Analysis of Agreement in Ekegusii in the Minimalist Program

Sep 1998 to Dec 2002: Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics (major), Literature (major) and Political Science (minor)- Hons (University of Nairobi, Kenya)