https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/717 2026-05-15T13:40:50Z 2026-05-15T13:40:50Z LUVONGA, Solomon Chenenje https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5896 2023-12-17T09:43:57Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Pragmatic interpretation of Oluluhya idioms in radio Mambo fm Witimbule programme LUVONGA, Solomon Chenenje Idioms have been applied functionally as regulators of human behaviour, evidence of politeness in conversations, for entertainment, face-saving by mincing the words to show decorum, a sign of linguistic competence and the store of cultural values among the Luhya people. However, there was need to investigate whether or not the fans of Witimbule programme in Radio Mambo FM interpret various forms of idioms correctly because among the 19 Luhya dialects, there is lexical mismatch which may cause multiple interpretations of idioms and consequently, lead to miscommunication among the fans and listeners of Witimbule programme. If the appropriate strategies of interpreting idioms are not applied, the use of idioms can be a hindrance to communication. The objectives of the study were to determine the form of idioms which are susceptible to misinterpretation by the fans of Witimbule programme in Radio Mambo FM, analyse how misinterpretation of idioms during the conversation in Radio Mambo FM Witimbule programme arises and establish the most effective strategies of interpreting idioms during Witimbule programme. Significance to the study was to establish the least effort strategies of interpreting the idioms for effective communication. The study was carried out in the framework of relevance theory by Wilson and Sperber (1995/2002). It is a pragmatic theory that explains how discourse can be interpreted during conversation. Some of its tenets which were applicable to this study include: Following the path of the least effort strategies to reach the cognitive effect, the role of context in interpretation of discourse, the complexity of the information being processed in the brain and the cost-benefit basis. The study adopted the descriptive research design because it is in line with qualitative approach to describe the phenomenon as it occurs in its natural setting. The study area was Western Kenya region (Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga counties). The samples were collected by purposive sampling procedure. Sample size was determined by the number of fans from each dialect which was 66. 69 Idioms were collected by listening and audio-tape recording during the programme until saturation stage was reached. The idioms were recorded in context as excerpts. The data from respondents was collected through an unstructured oral interview using an interview schedule because it involved face-to-face questioning for more clarification. The findings were organised in thematic areas, analysed and presented in textual form. The study sought to determine the least effort strategies to interpret idioms and found that idioms are integrated naturally in conversations during Witimbule programme. The form of idioms which were mostly misinterpreted is proverbial and hyperbolic. The main hindrances to interpretation of idioms were lack of cognitive environment and native speaker intuition. The most effective, fastest and least effort strategy of interpreting idioms was cognitive environment approach. The other strategies were dependent on cognitive environment approach to be effective. Lexical mismatch among Oluluhya-speaking communities did not significantly impact on the interpretation of Oluluhya idioms because the interlocutors employed the tactics of lexical accommodation, assimilation, code switching and neologism. The study found that the number of fans who misinterpreted the idioms was significant, and therefore the most effective strategy of interpreting idioms was cognitive environment approach. Other strategies were dependent on it. Relevance theory was effective in describing the objectives of the study. PhD Thesis

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z OYOKO, Amos Maina https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5703 2023-05-17T12:23:56Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

A morpho-phonological analysis of reduplication in Lukisa dialect OYOKO, Amos Maina Reduplication is a grammatical aspect that occurs in human language in which a whole linguistic constituent or part of it is repeated to form a new constituent. Reduplication can be both a morphological and phonological process of forming a compound word by repeating all or part of a word. Morphological reduplication involves semantic change through another word formation process while phonological duplication is where the copying picks the closest phonological input restricted to cases of phonological necessity repeated exactly or with a slight change. Lukisa, a Luhya dialect, is expected to exhibit reduplication patterns which vary from a single element being copied to an entire phrase through morphoplogical reduplication which involves the creation of a new stem type and phonological doubling which entirely depict reduplication as a limitless linguistic resource and a naturally integrated facility in language. The focus of this study is to explore the manifestation of morphophonological reduplication in Lukisa dialect. The purpose of this study was to analyze MorphoPhonological reduplication in Lukisa. The objectives of the study were to: establish the morpho semantic features of reduplication in Lukisa dialect, describe the manifestation of phonological copying in Lukisa dialect and explore how pseudo reduplication is manifest in Lukisa dialect. Inkelas and Zoll’s (2005) Morphological Doubling Theory (MDT) was adopted for this study where the aspect of reduplication results when morphology calls twice for the constituents of a given semantic description with a possible phonological modification of either or both constituents. A Descriptive Research Design was employed in this study. The study was carried out in Khwisero Sub County of Kakamega County. The study population was the native Lukisa dialect speakers. The study targeted a sample of 20 Lukisa native speakers purposively sampled from 208 members of Buchero Educational and Cultural Society to provide data for this study. Three written texts on Lukisa oral literature and history were purposively sampled to provide data for analysis through Focus Group Discussions. Native speaker intuition and competence of the principal researcher also enabled more data collection and to ascertain data authentication process. A pilot study on FGDs was used to ensure that there was the validity and reliability. Data was qualitatively analyzed through content analysis of the morphemes, stems, roots and lexical items with reference to the corpus of reduplication cases to bring out the morphosemantics of reduplication that changed or maintained the word classes, the phonological processes of copying of vowel lengthening, vowel change and syllable weight and linguistic pseudo reduplication in which the inputs cannot be separately analyzed. The findings were presented through thematic description and explained through themes and sub themes. The study revealed that in Lukisa, semantics is a linguistic phenomenon that is part of the morphology of reduplication. The reduplication results to notions such as: diminution, frequentativeness and augmentation. The research further revealed that various lexical categories such as verbs, nouns and adverbs manifested phonological copying processes of duplication where there was the doubling of a sound in a given phonological environment, at times with some alteration of the sound through the processes of vowel lengthening, vowel substitution and change in syllable weight. Finally, pseudo reduplication was manifest in that the resultant reduplicative construction had no meaningful semantic and syntactic connection with either of the input daughters of the mother node when separately analyzed. The research revealed the applicability of the tenets of MDT on inputs in phonological copying and morphological doubling. This study suggests a further study to be carried out on: the morpho-phonological reduplication in coastal Bantu languages, a comparative study of pseudo reduplication of the Luhya dialects and the change in the supra segmental features that accompany phonological copying in other Luhya dialects

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z Bukhala, Ireneo Denis https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5589 2022-12-20T14:19:35Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

An analysis of interpersonal communication in the editorial columns of Parents magazine Bukhala, Ireneo Denis Parents is a magazine that is published monthly in Kenya. It was launched in 1986 and presents content on life’s relevant issues such as love, marriage, health, finances among others. It has been on the market for over three decades. For effective, communication interpersonal communication is vital. It can be challenging to writers to effectively achieve and maintain interpersonal communication with the readers since they are usually not present for a face-to-face interaction to guide the readers through their text. The aim of the study was to investigate how interpersonal communication is achieved in the editorial column of Parents magazine. This study was library research in the field of discourse analysis. The study sought to explore how the editorial column of Parents magazine signals authorial and social presence to facilitate interpersonal communication. The specific objectives were: to identify features used in the editorial column of Parents magazine that help achieve interpersonal communication; classify the features that achieve interpersonal communication in the editorial column of Parents magazine; explain how authorial presence is attained in the editorial column of Parents magazine to achieve interpersonal communication and; establish how social presence is attained in the editorial column of Parents magazine to enhance interpersonal communication. For the purpose of analyzing interpersonal communication, the study applied a theoretical framework based on Hyland (2005) theory of metadiscourse. The study employed all the tenets of Hyland’s theory of metadiscourse namely metadiscourse is distinct from propositional aspect, metadiscourse expresses writer-reader interactions, metadiscourse comprises the interactive and interactional functional categories and metadiscourse employs rhetorical appeals to achieve interpersonal communication. The study adopted a descriptive design. The study adopted multi-stage sampling which involved Simple random sampling to sample Parents magazine and 2017 as the year of study. Purposive sampling was used to select the editorial column since it carries the writer’s voice. All the twelve editorial columns of 2017 Parents magazine formed the population of the study. A corpus compilation technique was used in data collection. Content analysis was used to analyze the interactive and interactional features of metadiscourse identified in the editorial columns of Parents magazine. A documents schedule comprising Hyland’s taxonomy of metadiscourse was used in qualitative analysis to describe and explain the interactive and interactional features of metadiscourse with specific functions in the editorial column. Qualitative data was presented through description and classification of the metadiscourse features such as transitions, frame markers, evidentials, code glosses, hedges, boosters, attitude markers, engagement markers and self mentions. For quantitative analysis, the data was presented in frequency distribution tables and charts to establish metadiscourse patterns in the editorial column. The study revealed that both interactive and interactional metadiscourse resources were used in the editorial column of Parents magazine. The interactive features were present through the use of transitions, frame markers, evidentials and code glosses and they guided the reader to find the content of the magazine. The interactional metadiscourse features through the use of hedges, boosters, attitude markers, engagement markers and self mentions were used to involve the readers in the text thus drawing the readers closer to the writer and thereby building the writer-reader interaction. The findings reveal the crucial role of metadiscourse in the organization of discourse and as a rhetorical strategy for magazines. The study suggests that for a vivid authorial presence and personality, the study of both textual and visual metadiscourse should be adopted in future studies. The study makes a contribution to existing knowledge in the use of metadiscourse in the print media, discourse analysis and in the field of communication in general.

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z ABADE, JUDE https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5546 2022-12-19T13:24:35Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE 2018 UHURU-RAILA HANDSHAKE DISCOURSE IN KENYA ABADE, JUDE In Kenya, the Uhuru-Raila handshake on 9th March, 2018 elicited diverse discourse. Both the print media and the populace were replete with the discourse on it. This particular handshake ostensibly surpassed the traditional social purview of handshakes as polite greetings. Its conceptualization by Kenyans definitely eluded the precinct of handshakes as greeting occurrences hence the extensive discourse on it. This necessitates an examination of its linguistic aspects by undertaking a functional linguistic analysis of the prevailing discourse on it in Kenya‘s print media and amongst Kenyans. The study objectives are to: examine how the print media exploits lexical choices to propagate concepts on the Uhuru-Raila handshake discourse in Kenya, determine the relation between syntactic structures and social cohesion in the Uhuru-Raila handshake discourse and evaluate the effect of the Uhuru-Raila handshake on the perception of Kenyans in the handshake discourse. The study was guided by Systemic Functional Grammar theory by Halliday (1975). The theory tenets are: the ideational metafunction, interpersonal metafunction and the textual metafunction (Halliday, 1975). The tenets were used in qualitative data analysis. The interpretation of lexical items was context based. Analytical research design was adopted in the study. Study population comprised 10 Bunge La Mwananchi (People‘s Parliaments) in Kisumu City, which was the bedrock of opposition politics in the 2017 general elections and 732 dailies covering the period between 9th March, 2018 and 9th March, 2019 (The Daily Nation and The Standard Newspaper). The research instruments considered were extraction guide and interview schedule. Validity and reliability of research instruments were guaranteed through pilot studies. Sentences and lexical items from the news reports and editorials from the dailies and responses from the respondents formed the units of analysis. Saturated sampling was used to arrive at 21 extracts from the editorial and news sections of the two dailies. Ten informants were arrived at through purposive sampling of the 10 Bunge La Mwananchi in Kisumu City. The findings were that the print media in Kenya purposely employed lexical choices to propagate diverse ideas on the handshake: agreement, conflict resolution, political co-operation, peace, harmony, attitudes, betrayal, reconciliation, threat, conspiracy, revenge, opportune moment to fight corruption, a license to form new political alliances, mitigation measure against political violence and economic growth on the Uhuru-Raila handshake; syntactic structures were intentionally configured to foster social cohesion in the country by the print media; and handshake has had significant influence on the perception of Kenyans on socio-political issues. The significance of the study are: handshake should be a key component in conflict resolution attempts in the future and the print media in any jurisdiction should intentionally configure sentences and exploit lexical choices to promote any matter of national interest.

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5009 2022-02-21T09:02:18Z 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z

The emergence of Sheng in Nairobi: a Social-psychological perspective Language contact often results in the emergence of new varieties. In Kenya contact between various indigenous Kenyan languages, Kiswahili and English has resulted in the emergence of Shenq. Sheng, a compound of Swahili and English, is still in early infancy. Its beginnings cannot be traced beyond early sixties in Nairobi. Probably because of this relative newness there are as yet no substantial empirical studies available on this language. There are hardly any published syntactic, morphological or phonological descriptions 1f Sheng; nor has any scholar examined the social psychological aspects associated with it. Sheng is then really a language in the making. We therefore pose such questions as what is the social and linguistic environment in which Sheng is emerging, and with what impact? Who speaks Sheng? What is th-e attitude towards Sheng? What are its prospects? This study has been carried out in Nairobi. The major focus of the study is on the social and psychological aspects of Sheng, but attention has also been paid to the morphosyntaotic aspects as an attempt to understand the nature and working of the language we are investigating. The investigation, therefore, will provide us with a description of Sheng as well as afford us the opportunity to critically examine theories on such phenomena as code mixing/switching, pidgins and creoles and mixed languages. We will in addition examine the Nairobi community's attitude towards Sheng. Donation

2002-01-01T00:00:00Z OCHUNG', Jane Awino https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/3661 2021-04-19T12:31:39Z 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z

Pragmatic interpretation of speaker meanings: a case study of Implicatures in Kenya television network's 'newsline' Programme OCHUNG', Jane Awino ABSTRACT This study investigated pragmatic mechanisms that underlie interpretation of speaker-intended meanings in KTN's, 'Newsline' program. As an agent of ideology television perpetuates the interests and values of those in power. Yet as a cultural commodity its audiences engage with media material using and defining meaning in terms of their own value and reality systems. Thus the speaker is not always certain that the audience that participates in the communication process will interpret and understand the intended message. Discrepancies often arise between what is said and the message conveyed by uttering specific words. The study therefore investigated implicatures, in KTN's 'Newsline' so as to determine how audiences arrive at interpretations, pragmatically. The study had three objectives, that is, to: identify and describe implicatures and related aspects of context; to analyze implicatures within the Gricean CP and maxims and finally, to establish viewers' opinions about aspects of effective communication, namely, clarity, rhetorical strategies and relevance during selected episodes of 'Newsline'. The study adopted Grice's (1975) theory of implicature in which he proposes that speaker's meaning is a type of intention that the speaker discharges cooperatively with the addressee. It employed a case study design. The study sample consisted of 10 episodes of 'Newsline'. Data was collected between January and December 2007 from episodes of 'Newsline' through non-participant observation and face-to-face interviews with regular viewers. 'Newsline' was a discussion program that was selected purposively because of its dialogic structure, interpersonal mode of communication and content, that is, discussions on topical issues. Corpora obtained through audio-visual recording were transcribed and analyzed qualitatively. Interview schedules were availed to guide the interv~ewprocess. The study concluded that discourse in 'Newsline' is replete with implicatures because interlocutors infer meaning whenever they sense that information is conveyed implicitly. This is part of the cooperative role that both the speaker and hearer play in assigning speaker's meaning. The CP and its maxims together with other aspects of context such as shared background knowledge regulate this process of interpretation. This study contributes to linguistics by showing the application of the tenets of Grice's (1975) CP and maxims In interpretation of speaker-intended meanings in television discourse. It also sensitizes TV program presenters/hosts to moderate discussions firmly so as to ensure objective and meaningful discussions for the benefit of their audiences.

2013-01-01T00:00:00Z ORWA , Esther A. https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1258 2019-10-28T06:52:38Z 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z

Socio- cultural influence on learners’ English vocabulary development in selected secondary schools in lower Nyokal division, Homa- bay town sub- county, Kenya ORWA , Esther A. Vocabulary is widely considered as one of the most essential elements of a language. It plays a pivotal role in determining whether or not learners will communicate in a language they have learnt successfully. Extensive knowledge of English vocabulary is believed to be important for the four macro skills thus; reading, listening, speaking and writing. In fact, our lack of English vocabulary knowledge is more likely to result in great difficulty in expressing ourselves both in speaking and writing. Because of the significance of vocabulary knowledge in effective language learning, vocabulary learning and instruction are attracting considerable attention from researchers and practitioners. The current study posits that learners. English vocabulary development may be influenced by school, home and family environment. The Kenyan secondary school curriculum advocates for an integrated approach in teaching of English language. The integrated approach together with socio-cultural contexts where learners come from should provide sufficient contact with English language vocabularies. The paradox is regardless of such exposures, learners still indicate deficiency in expression skills in their speech and written work. The main objective of the study was to investigate the socio-cultural influences on learners. English vocabulary development in selected secondary schools in Homa-Bay Town Sub- County. The objectives of the study were to: establish sources of English vocabularies and their influences on secondary school learners. vocabulary development and investigate vocabulary teaching methods used by Lower Nyokal Division teachers of English. The study was guided by a conceptual framework drawn from Celce Murcia (2001) which contains 9 trends of language teaching. From these trends, the research draws concepts of Explicit Instruction, Incidental Learning and Strategy Training as a means of vocabulary development. The study employed descriptive survey design to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The total population for the study was thirteen teachers of English, 50 English composition scripts, 500 form four learners from 10 schools and 10 accessible parents residing in Lower Nyokal Division in Homa- Bay Town Sub- County, Kenya. Multi-stage sampling was used to obtain various units in the study. Form four learners were purposively sampled. Stratified sampling was used to group the 10 schools into sub-groups of: Mixed, Boys. and Girls. secondary schools. Quota sampling was used to select three schools (A, B and C) from each of the sub-groups. Purposive sampling was used to obtain 3 accessible parents and 3 teachers of English from the selected schools. Data was collected from learners through questionnaires, content analysis of the 50 composition scripts and 3 interview schedules for the teachers and parents. Data from completed questionnaires were scrutinized then coded for computer analysis using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The collected data from questionnaires, interviews and composition scripts were organized into themes which included; sources of English vocabularies and their influences on learners. vocabulary development and vocabulary instruction. The findings on sources and influence on vocabulary development indicate that learners obtain English vocabularies mostly from school and sparingly from home and family. Vocabulary instruction indicates that most Lower Nyokal teachers preferred using dictionaries as opposed to context when it comes to finding the meaning of unfamiliar word. The study recommends frequent utilization of English language in all the suggested environments, it also suggests a combinational approach towards vocabulary teaching. The findings have pedagogical as well as theoretical implications for Applied Linguists and educators in ESL. Masters' Thesis

2018-01-01T00:00:00Z ATIENO, Beatrice Owiti https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1227 2021-04-08T08:54:34Z 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z

Pragmatics of Dholuo panegyrics ATIENO, Beatrice Owiti Dholuo panegyrics (pakruok) reflect social issues that can only be contextually understood with reference to societal norms and Luo cultural practices. Dholuo panegyrics entail deliberate use of indirect references comprising implicit meanings. Dholuo panegyrics are full of indeterminacies such as ambiguities, metaphors, ironies and implicatures that are difficult to interpret as understanding them is contextually determined because of the use of figurative language. This study provides meaning of an utterance as an interpretation beyond literal meaning, which requires a hearer to resolve the indeterminacies to establish the speaker‟s implicit meaning of Dholuo panegyrics. The aim of the study was to explain how hearers bridge the gap between the encoded linguistic meaning of an utterance and the speaker‟s intended meaning of Dholuo panegyrics. Specific objectives were: to identify interpretive mechanisms required in order to interpret Dholuo panegyrics, explain how hearers interpret speakers‟ meaning of Dholuo panegyrics and determine role of contextual information in the interpretation of the panegyrics. It was important to investigate interpretation of Dholuo panegyrics in social contexts since previous studies provide literal meaning, which do not require interpretation strategies.The study adopted Relevance Theory propounded by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson (1995) founded on two principles: commuicative principle and cognitive principle. This study was carried out in Nyang‟oma Division, Bondo Sub-County. The study population comprised 200 utterances of Dholuo panegyrics. The study employed analytical research design. Purposive sampling technique was used to identify 10 informants of age thirty-five and above.Two hundred panegyrics were collected in different contexts by use of interview and observation schedules. The panegyrics were randomly sampled then a systematic sampling procedure done. To determine reliability, a pilot study was carried out to test reliability of the research methods and instruments. The study sample was not the same respondents used in the pilot study. This was to determine validity.Findimgs: understanding of Dholuo panegyrics is achieved by inferring the meaning of the speaker‟s utterance; communicators must provide interpretive mechanisms on the basis of contextual information to resolve the indeterminacies in different contexts, identify and classify types of panegyrics. Recommendations: users of Dholuo panegyrics should be conversant with socio-cultural strategies and discourse directions to appropriately interpret panegyrics.The study suggests further research to investigate panegyrics in other languages for future comparative studies and intercultural understanding of panegyrics. This study has contributed to the field of Linguistics, particularly, to scholars interested in Dholuo panegyrics. Masters' Thesis

2018-01-01T00:00:00Z OCHIENG, Robert Onyango https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1041 2019-11-01T14:03:42Z 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z

A discourse analysis of interaction between receptionists and patients in health facilities in Kisumu county, Kenya. OCHIENG, Robert Onyango Management of healthcare sector is very critical to the healing process. Receptionists are the first point of contact when patients visit health facilities. These receptionists who work in public facilities are employed by the ministry of health and managed by County governments while their counterparts who work in private health facilities fall under the hospital management, the human resource department. Private facilities in Kenya are represented by the Kenya healthcare federation. The duties of receptionists’ include registration of patients, organising appointments and keeping records of patients who visit healthcare facilities. Therefore, in the course of these duties, receptionists may facilitate or impede provision of health care services to patients through their language use. This study examines the interactions through which these activity types are accomplished at one public health facility and one private facility in Kenya. They are analysed and the discursive construction of roles and identities by receptionists and patients in the two separate, but related institutional contexts explored. Studies on institutional discourse have focused on transactional goals and neglected interpersonal dynamics that emerge in the course of interaction. This may lead to negative perceptions between receptionists and patients. This study is guided by the following objectives: firstly, to identify linguistic patterns and practices of discourse encounters at the two health facilities; secondly, to analyse these linguistic patterns and practices of discourse encounters at the two health facilities, thirdly, to examine how receptionists and patients enact their respective discourse roles and identities; lastly, to investigate the extent to which these linguistic patterns and practices are implicated in the construction and orientation to institutional power. Goffman’s (2002) theory of roles and identities is adopted in the study. The target population of the study consisted of receptionists in public health facilities and private health facilities and patients who visited these facilities for a period of one month. Instruments of data collection included tape recorders, interview schedules and questionnaires. Purposive sampling and iteration and saturation are used in the study. Data from naturally-occurring conversations among the receptionists and the patients is analysed using the qualitative research design. The discourse at the two facilities is found to consist of four stages. The four stages are constructed through predictable moves which are realised through limited speech moves and conversational styles. Different speech acts encode different levels of relational dynamics which is determined by social environment of each facility. Receptionists are also found to take varying attitudes towards their work. Some assume full responsibility for their actions while others attribute decisions to facilities. In the light of all these, it seems that the findings of this study about receptionists – client interaction might be of some value specifically in linguistics, policy makers, literature review and methodology. It is therefore proposed that the findings from this study be used in receptionist training programmes to raise awareness of communicative patterns of discourse roles at the reception with a view of improving both the professional experience of receptionists and the quality of service which patients at government health facilities and private health facilities receive. Quality customer service is equivalent to Vision 2030’s social pillar, which rests on the premise that investment in human capital is paramount for economic development. Phd,Thesis

2015-01-01T00:00:00Z NYAKOE, Damaris Gechemba https://repository.maseno.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1006 2019-01-22T08:40:09Z 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z

Metaphorical conceptualization and interpretation of EkeGusii HIV and aids discourse NYAKOE, Damaris Gechemba Language plays a fundamental role in HIV and AIDS communication. In Kenya, English and Kiswahili are used as the languages of communication in HIV and AIDS related issues although only 17% of the population use English effectively while, 65% speak and understand Kiswahili. Therefore, the use of indigenous languages is encouraged in HIV and AIDS communication. EkeGusii like any other African languages does not have specific terms for defining scientific concepts like HIV and AIDS. Numerous expressions used in HIV and AIDS results from the speakers’ creativity and their different embodied experiences with their environments over the scourge. Some of these expressions in EkeGusii are metaphorical. However, the use of metaphor may give rise to difficulties in comprehension because of the multiple interpretations that may be accorded to it and its comparison may introduce properties that are not part of the addressee’s mental representation of the topic. Consequently, expressions of HIV and AIDS may be represented and interpreted differently by EkeGusii speakers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the metaphorical conceptualization of EkeGusii HIV and AIDS discourse and their representation and interpretation. The objectives were to: identify and explain the metaphorical conceptualization of EkeGusii HIV and AIDS expressions and analyse properties of their cross domain mappings and, explain how EkeGusii speakers represent and interpret HIV and AIDS metaphors. The Cognitive Theory of Metaphor propounded by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) was used to analyze data. Ubiquity, domains, cognitive models, unidirectionality, necessity and focusing tenets of the theory were used in this study. The analytical research design was employed in this study. Purposive and chain sampling techniques were used in this study. The unit of analysis was EkeGusii linguistic expressions used in HIV and AIDS discourse which also formed the population of this study. A total of 54 linguistic expressions and 17 transcripts were used in the analysis. Data for this study was collected using semi-structured interviews and it was analysed qualitatively using content analysis within the tenets of the Cognitive Theory of Metaphor. This data was assigned into different cross domain mappings and their properties and interpretations discussed. The findings indicated that EkeGusii speakers conceptualize HIV and AIDS using a number of mappings, for instance, A SEROPOSITIVE IS ON A JOURNEY and CONTRACTING HIV IS DEATH. However, some of these mappings carry negative connotations for example, CONTRACTING HIV IS DEATH and HIV IS A BIG BEAST among others. This study may be useful to HIV and AIDS communicative campaigners as they may design communicative activities using and acceptable terminologies. The study recommends that EkeGusii speakers should avoid using linguistic expressions that perpetuate stigma and discrimination in HIV and AIDS discourse. PHD Thesis

2015-01-01T00:00:00Z