ABSTRACT
The chapter provides a (meta-) analysis of the interpretational space between Chinese, English and local African languages. It concentrates on Swahili, a language widely spoken along the East African coast. The chapter seeks to answer a number of central research questions using theories of knowledge transfer and effective communication: Which institutions offer Chinese experts the opportunity to learn technical jargon in English and Swahili? The chapter questions the extent to which knowledge and experience are transferred and instilled when China provides aid with the aim of fostering human resources in Africa and promoting its soft power in the form of scholarship programmes, training workshops and the creation of various language and demonstration centres. It examines language institutions for Chinese and Swahili speakers for professional purposes, the language proficiency of Chinese technical experts in Africa, and the limitations of Chinese language in conveying technology jargon to its learners within the domain of technical aid.
