Dr. Francis B. Eshun
Department of Linguistics and Languages
University of Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya
Home Phone: 0733-484462
Office: 334244 x 28063
Office Private Line: 020-6751468
Internet:
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EDUCATION:Ph.D (Linguistics) 1993
Major: Phonology
Minor: Linguistics (Distributed)
University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.A. ( Linguistics), 1988
Major: Phonology
Minor: Linguistics
University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.A. (Honors, 2nd Class Upper), Akan Linguistics 1981
Diploma in Education
Major: General Linguistics
Minor: Education
University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Teachers' Certificate 'A' (Post Secondary) 1974
Major: Teaching
Minor: Education
Akrokerri Teacher Training College, Ghana.
CAPABILITIES:Teaching Phonology, Phonological Theory, General Linguistics, Applied Linguistics
Computer Applications, Desktop Publishing
Language teaching: Swahili and Akan. Research interests in Phonology,
General Linguistics, and Analysis of African Languages.
Computers:Teaching Computer Applications, Troubleshooting, Networking
WORK HISTORY:
1997-PresentLecturer – Department of Linguistics and African Languages, University of
Nairobi – Teaching Phonology, Computer Applications & Desktop Publishing
1996-1997Visiting Faculty, Department of Linguistics and African Languages, University of
Nairobi under the Teachers for Africa Program. Duties included teaching CLL 403 -
4th Year Advanced Phonology and CLE201 - 2nd Year Modern English Phonetics
and Phonology and all the teaching responsibilities that went with it as well as
supervising 4th Year thesis.
Helped the Faculty of Engineering Computer Lab and the Office of the DVC A&F in
setting up and working on computers.
1995-1996Lecturer, African Languages and Literature, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Taught Introdutory Swahili & Linguistics. My duties included pedagogy, designing oral and written assignments and supervising student research papers on various aspects of Linguistics, Swahili and Akan.
1995-1996Microsoft Support Engineer for Personal Operating Systems. I was one of about 250 engineers in the United States who provide technical support for Microsoft Operating Systems. I provide support for all versions of MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and all its related applets and applications.
1993Technical Coordinator - University of Wisconsin Summer Course on "Computers in the Classroom". I taught a summer course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on the Use of Computers in the Classroom. This was a US Government-sponsored Title-6 project on the use of computers to access data for teaching purposes and I was the sole coordinator for that course. The course content included identifying the various parts of computer hardware and elementary troubleshooting. The participants were grade school through high school teachers from all over the Mid-West. By the end of the 6-week course, the participants had acquired enough knowledge to implement computer training classes in their curricula and classrooms.
1991-1993System Operator, Bulletin Board Service; Computer Specialist -University of Wisconsin African Studies Program. Worked on a special project to develop an information database to disseminate information about Africa. Responsible for developing and maintaining a computer bulletin board and mail system for outreach purposes for teachers, staff and the general public in the Mid-west region, which is accessible through personal computers and the Internet. I did backup, equipment diagnosis and maintenance, troubleshooting, and system analysis. As the computer specialist, I was the System Operator for the Bulletin Board Service as well as the main contact person for all computer related issues and problems for the Instructional Materials Center of the African Studies Program.
1981-83Lecturer - Akan Linguistics - University of Cape Coast, Ghana. I taught General and Applied Linguistics at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana as an Assistant Lecturer at the undergraduate level. Other duties included developing an undergraduate curriculum for the department.
1985-PresentComputer Consultant
DUTIES: - This position requires an advanced knowledge of MS/IBM DOS systems, Windows and Unix environments, VMS/VAX and the Internet System, as well as familiarity with DOS and Windows-based packages, communication protocols, software packages and training support.
WORKS PRODUCED:
1.Redundancy Rules in Kiswahili. Occasional Papers in Language and Linguistics, Volume 2, 2004.
2.Aspects of Akan Phonology. University of Wisconsin Press, 1993.
3.Vowel Systems of Kenyan Languages. Paper ready to be presented at a Symposium on African Languages and Linguistics 2006.
4.The Concept of 'Falling' in Akan. University of Wisconsin Department of African Language & Literature Seminars, 1992
5.Phonemic analysis and phonological harmony in Akan / by Francis
Bannerman Eshun. 1988.NOTIS #: (AJZ4367)
LOCATION Memorial Library AWO Masters Theses Basement North
CALL NO. AWO E759 F735
ONGOING RESEARCH:
‘Phonological Processes in Kenyan Languages: A Synchronic Approach’
PROFESSIONAL Member, Wisconsin Association of Foreign Language Teachers
ASSOCIATIONS:Member, African Language Association.
Member, African Language Teachers Association
Member, Unified Akan Orthography Committee, Ghana.