Research Journal in African Languages is a leading peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research works on/in indigenous African Languages such as Kiswahili, Akan, Hausa, Yoruba, Ewe, Luo, Igbo, Gikuyu. The journal has a mission to make research and knowledge accessible to all; authors, therefore, benefit from high visibility and readership for their work. The journal's broad aims and scope allow researchers to explore interconnected subject areas. Articles in this journal are evaluated on their own scholarly merit and research integrity, and our expert academic editors take an objective and constructive approach to the peer-review process. Research Journal in African Languages is indexed by Google Scholar.
This open-access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license. You are free to: Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Under the following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. No additional restrictions You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Ruwaza za kimofolojia za majina ya mahali ya Kikamba: Mtazamo wa mofolojia leksia
Makala hii imechunguza ruwaza za majina ya mahali ya Kikamba kwa kuangalia vijenzi mbalimbali vinavyojenga majina hayo. Majina yaliyoshughulikiwa ni sehemu ya data iliyokusanywa kutoka Jimbo dogo la Makueni. Majina ya mahali na vijenzi vyake yamewasilishwa kwa kutumia majedwali na michoro msonge. Matokeo ya uchanganuzi huo yamedhihirisha kuwa asilimia kubwa ya majina ya mahali katika jamii ya Wakamba yameundwa kwa vijenzi mbalimbali ambavyo huungana kuyaunda. Vigezo hivyo vimechanganuliwa kimofolojia. Ukweli huu unapinga madai ya wanamuundo kama Agard (1984) kwamba majina ya mahususi kama ya mahali huundwa kwa mizizi tu, Makala hii imethibitisha kuwa vipo vipashio maalumu vinavyounda majina ya mahali.
leksia, majina ya mahali, mofolojia, ruwaza, vigezo
Copyright (c) 2024 Peninah Mwende Musyoki, Vifu Makoti, John Mutua https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Uchanganuzi wa mahusiano ya kitabaka katika riwaya za Kuli na Pendo la Karaha
Jamii tuliyomo, ni yenye mfumo wa kiuchumi unaoruhusu watu wachache kumiliki na kudhibiti njia kuu za uzalishaji mali. Kutokana na sifa hii, matabaka hujitokeza: tabaka la juu ambalo ni la walionavyo, na tabaka la chini ambalo ni la wasionavyo. Matabaka haya hayakosi kutangamana katika mchakato wa uzalishaji mali na vilevile utafutaji wa riziki.Yote mawili hutegemeana. Kutokana na kutangamana kwao, makala hii itachunguza mahusiano ya matabaka haya ni ya aina gani. Mahusiano haya yatachunguzwa kwa kuangalia uhasi ama uchanya wake. Nadharia ya Umarx itaongoza utafiti huu. Ni nadharia inayotawala mijadala yote inayohusu utabaka.
Copyright (c) 2024 Virginia Wambui Mwathi, Vifu Makoti, John Mutua https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Traces of Kiswahili phonology and orthography in the EkeGusii Holy Bible: An analysis of consonants in Kiswahili nouns borrowed into EkeGusii.
This paper investigates the influence of Kiswahili orthography and phonology on EkeGusii consonant orthography and phonology This paper was intended to establish the consonant orthographic and pronunciation inaccuracies in the EkeGusii Holy bible This was in the view of the fact that EkeGusii consonant orthography and phonology in the existing published EkeGusii texts such as Ngoko (1979) and Bosire & Machogu (2013) among others seem to be accurate. The objectives of the study were: to establish the discrepancies between the orthographies and phonologies of EkeGusii and Kiswahili languages, to determine what EkeGusii phonological and orthographic systems do to the Kiswahili grapheme and phoneme consonants not present in the EkeGusii systems that enter into the systems as observed in the EkeGusii Holy bible and, to suggest corrective measures to any inaccuracy observed in the EkeGusii holy bible. The study was conducted through content analysis, a descriptive research design. Data was collected from the EkeGusii Holy bible translated from Kiswahili. All the orthographically and phonologically inaccurate (consonantal) words constituted the population of the study. The sample size of the study was obtained by purposively choosing two orthographically and phonologically inaccurately presented words for each consonant grapheme and phoneme. The population of the respondents included all EkeGusii speakers who are able to read/write in the EkeGusii language. The sample size of the respondents included 5 pastors who were randomly selected. A questionnaire which doubled up as an interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents. Data was analyzed through the qualitative content analysis method in which the presence of targeted graphemes and phonemes were determined and analyzed. The study established that there are a number of Kiswahili consonant phonemes and graphemes not present in the EkeGusii phonological and orthographic systems. Examples of consonant phonemes: /l, d, f, v, g, z/etc. as in /lala/ “sleep”, /damu/ “blood,” /fanya/ “do” , /piga/ “beat”, /vuka/ “cross” /punguza/ “reduce” Examples of graphemes: <l, d, f, v, ʃ/ etc. as in < lete> ‘bring, <dunia> “world”, <funga> “tie”, <shika> “hold” It was further established that the spellings and pronunciations of Kiswahili were transferred to EkeGusii orthography and pronunciation in the EkeGusii bible, hence the inaccuracies observed. The paper concludes that the inaccuracies in the EkeGusii bible are caused by errors of translation because as Nyakundi (2010) correctly observes, “arguably the missionaries could not have known the EkeGusii language well. It is also possible that the people who assisted the missionaries in translation were not experts in this field (linguistics). It is recommended that the orthographic and phonological inaccuracies in the EkeGusii bible be corrected by replacing the inaccurate Swahili graphemes and phonemes with EkeGusii ones.
Copyright (c) 2023 George Anyona https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Usawirishaji wa Uhusika katika riwaya za Rosa Mistika na Maisha Kitendawili
Makala hii inajadili usawirishaji wa uhusika katika riwaya za Rosa Mistika na Maisha Kitendawili. Kipengele cha wahusika ni muhimu katika kazi ya fasihi kwani hushirikiana na vipengele vingine vya fani ili kutoa ujumbe wa kazi ya fasihi. Kwa kawaida wahusika hujengwa kisanaa na mwandishi ili waweze kuwasilisha dhana mbalimbali za maisha katika jamii. Kwa hivyo lengo la makala hii ni kuchambua uwashirishaji wa wahusika wakuu katika riwaya za Rosa Mistika ya Euphrase Kezilahabi na Maisha Kitendawili ya John Habwe Kwa kawaida wahusika hujengwa kisanaa na mwandishi ili waweze kuwasilisha dhana mbalimbali za maisha katika jamii. Kipengele cha wahusika ni muhimu katika kazi ya fasihi kwani hushirikiana na vipengele vingine vya fani ili kutoa ujumbe wa kazi ya fasihi. Mwandishi huwajenga wahusika wake kwa kutumia mbinu mbalimbali ili kuwatofautisha na kuiwezesha hadhira yake kutambua sifa za mhusika fulani na kutofautisha na mhusika mwingine katika kazi ya fasihi. Kwa hivyo lengo la makala hii ni kubainisha mfanano wa wahusika wakuu katika riwaya za Rosa Mistika (Euphrase Kezilahabi) na Maisha Kitendawili (John Habwe). Ili kufikia lengo la makala hii tumeongozwa na nadharia ya udhanaishi. Nadharia hii imetuwezesha kubainisha sifa za wahusika wakuu kama zilivyosawiriwa na waandishi.
fani, mbinu, mtindo, sanaa, uhusika, usawiri, wahusika
Copyright (c) 2023 Shadrack Tete Muia, John Mutua, Vifu Makoti https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Mchango wa mandhari katika kusawirisha ujumbe wa mwandishi katika riwaya ya Maisha Kitendawili
Makala hii inalenga kuhakiki mandhari katika riwaya ya John Habwe; Maisha Kitendawili (2000). Lengo la makala ni kuchunguza na kubainisha jinsi ambavyo mwandishi John Habwe alivyotumia mandhari kuwasilisha ujumbe wake kwa jamii. Pia wahakiki wanamadhumuni ya kubainisha jinsi mandhari mbalimbali yanavyomwezesha mwandishi kufikia lengo lake. Makala hii inaongozwa na nadharia ya uhalisia ambayo husisitiza kuwa kazi ya fasihi itumie mandhari halisi ambayo si mageni kwa mwandishi na msomaji ili kuwasilisha ukweli wa maisha halisi.
Modes of linguistically classifying verbal bullying expressions used in Kenyan secondary schools
This paper examines modes of classifying verbal bullying expressions used in secondary schools in Kenya. The study sought to find out evidence of linguistic expressions used in verbal bullying and the forms they took by using Politeness theory; how the utterances affected the targeted students and especially if they violated the students’ rights on dignity and equal opportunity to quality education despite the child’s background. The study used a mixed methods design, where quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect and analyze data. Purposive sampling was used to select the schools. The selected schools were stratified and categorized in two groups, that is mixed and pure girls’ and boys’ schools. Further stratification was done based on the type of school whether it was mixed boarding or mixed day school; boys’ boarding and girls’ boarding schools or whether it was a sub county, county, extra county or national school. Students were selected randomly from each class of school to form the population of the respondents. The students were interviewed to collect data. The collected data was subjected to analysis, findings were interpreted and the outcome presented in narratives. Both positive (accusations/criticisms, expressions of contempt or ridiculing, evaluations, insults, slanders or spreading rumors and challenges) and negative face threatening acts (interruptions or intrusion, reminders and issuing orders) were identified from the data as examples of verbal bullying expressions using Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory. The study established that verbal bullying expressions had great effects on the targeted. Some of the victims felt isolated from their affiliated groups, dejected, devalued, humiliated among others.
Copyright (c) 2023 Dorothy Katunge Mutunga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Matumizi ya takriri katika uwasilishaji wa mashairi ya Euprase Kezilahabi na Kithaka wa Mberia
This paper exploits the use of repetition as stylistic device in the poems of Kezilahabi and Mberia with the intetions of comparison. It comes out clear that some forms of repetition are commonly used by both poets. Repetition as a style assists the artist in the presentation of theme and on the emphasy. Moreover it brings out rhythm in the poetry works. This paper has illustrated broadly on various forms of repetition. Repetition as astyle, has always been used in poetic works. What comes out clear is that even the free verse poetry of Kezilahabi and Mberia exibits this style. Kezilahabi works have some resemblance with the works of Kithaka Wa Mberia on the forms of repetition. It is also clear in this paper that parallelism is an example of repetition. Parallelism in free verse poetry serves a particular perpose.
commission, parallelism, repetition and hopelessnes
Copyright (c) 2023 JUMA N. JOB https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Pragmatics analysis of appellations of chieftaincies and monarchies in selected Akan’s towns in Ghana
The investigation analyzed the pragmatics issues of some appellations of chief and queen mothers in Akan perspective. The analysis took into consideration fifty (50) respondents as the population sample with an imbalance gender distribution of fifteen (15) women. The purposive sampling technique was employed to elicit essential information for the investigation. Unstructured interviews, observation, and recording were the data collection instrument. The pragmatic processes identified were loyalty, braveness, warrior, conqueror, mighty, kindness, justices and protector. This investigation had Speech Act theory propounded by Austin in the year 1962 as its bases. It was finally realized that the effects of pragmatics on appellation of chief and queen mothers in Akan communities were very essential and cannot be underestimated so far as culture remain the integral part of Akans daily lives.
Akans, appellations, chiefs, knowledge, pragmatics, research work
Copyright (c) 2022 Adu David Tuffour https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Matumizi ya jazanda katika uwasilishaji wa mashairi ya Euphrase Kezilahabi na Kithaka wa Mberia
Makala hii imechunguza mtindo wa jazanda na viwango vya jazanda vilivyotumika katika kusawiri mashairi yenye maudhui ya ukoloni mamboleo na uchumi. Aina mbalimbali za jazanda zimechanganuliwa kwa kuzingatia maana inayojitokeza. Mashairi ya Kezilahabi na Mberia ndiyo yamezingatiwa. Utafiti huu umezingatia uainishaji wa wataalam hawa wote ili kubaini ufanano na utofauti uliopo kimtindo katika uwasilishaji wa mashairi huru ya Kezilahabi na Mberia. Nadharia ya Mtindo ilitumika katika utafiti wa kazi hii. Nadharia hii iliasisiwa na Buffon (1930) na kuendelezwa na Leech (1969). Mbinu ya usomaji wa maktabani ilitumika katika ukusanyaji wa data. Matokeo yaliwasilishwa kwa njia ya maelezo. Utafiti huu ni muhimu kwa wanafunzi wa shule na hata kwa wanafunzi wa vyuo vikuu. Makala hii inasaidia mwanafunzi kuweza kubaini aina mbalimbali ya jazanda na ishara wasilishi za jazanda.
jazanda, Euphrase Kezilahabi, Kithaka wa Mberia, ushairi
Copyright (c) 2022 Juma Nyongesa Job https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Metaphorical depiction in Siti Binti Saad’s songs
This paper sought to examine the importance of context in the Siti Binti Saad’s songs. How does the context assist in the creation of the theme and the stylistic devices? Several songs have been used to answer the above question. Siti Binti Saad grew up during the colonial period and in the last times of slave trade. Colonial time is one of the factors of context that can be depicted from Siti’s songs. This paper has also vividly by examples outlined how metaphors are created in the reverence of context. Context plays a big role in the creation of imagery and the metaphors. It will be of help if the singer or the writer of literal work can understand the context of his audience.
An analysis of the phonological structure of homograph sets in Ekegusii
The aim of this paper is to analyze the phonological structure of homograph sets in Ekegusii. The paper is based on the premise that homograph sets in Ekegusii exhibit an array of phonological distinctiveness. Thus, using the distinctive features theory by Jakobson (1968), the paper describes respective sound features that are responsible for the variations that exist between different sets of homographs in Ekegusii. Multistage sampling which involved both purposive sampling and systematic sampling were used to identify the respondents and in selecting the homographs for analysis, respectively. A combined data elicitation method from Ekegusii native speakers and the researcher’s native speaker intuition was used to collect homographs for analysis. The results describe certain strategies that aid in distinguishing peculiar sets of homographs from each other. Accordingly, this paper is on lexical distinctions, thus it not only implicit on the vocabulary of Ekegusii but it also aids in improving the formal grammatical description of the language. It is hoped to be a resource for improvement of materials which aid in teaching and learning of Ekegusii and extend the knowledge of Ekegusii corpus.
homographs, phonemes, vowel length, vowel type
Copyright (c) 2022 Benard Angatia Mudogo, Alloys Otete Maobe, David Barasa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Morphological adaptation of verb borrowings from Keiyo and Nandi languages on the vitality of Talai-Marakwet dialect
Linguists over time are in agreement that there is a transfer of linguistic material when languages come into contact. This research sought to establish the vitality of the TalaiMarakwet dialect resulting from the morphological adaptation of Keiyo and Nandi verbs. The main thrust was to assess the extent of morphological adaptation of Keiyo and Nandi verbs on the vitality of TalaiMarakwet. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The number of respondents was obtained from a total population of 137,513. The sample size was obtained using random sampling procedures. This sampling helped in verifying the self- generated data on borrowed lexical verbs from Nandi and Keiyo languages into TalaiMarakwet dialect. The samples of borrowed lexical items for the study constitute fifty (50) verbs, that is, twenty-five (25) from Keiyo and twenty-five (25) from Nandi languages. The words used in analysis were obtained from six semantic fields namely; education, media, religion, farming, transportation and business. The findings from the study show that the adapted words undergo morphological modification to fit in with the TalaiMarakwet morphological template of words in the verbal system.
Copyright (c) 2022 Lorna Jemwetich Kwambai, Peter Nyansera Otieno, George Morara Anyona https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Representations of images and symbolisms in the story of Nganyi, the rain maker, as told among the Luo community of Kenya
Myths provide a link between the past and the present as they expalin supernatural phenomena. They also serve as origins of truth which in African phenomenology are traceable to mythological repositories and other ordinary values (Jaja, 2012). The Nganyi myth talks about the story of a legendary old woman who lived in Lake Victoria and used to emerge from the lake from time to time to perform miracles among the people of the Lake region, then return into the waters. Although the story takes place in three parts, this paper has only focused on the third and final part where Nganyi is involved. The study is guided by three objectives namely: to discuss how an African myth translates folklore into a valid scientific phenomenon; to describe the conceptual metaphors expressed in the story of Nganyi, the rainmaker and to explain the schematic patterns and vital relations that are derived from the story of Nganyi, the rainmaker. The story is presented in Dholuo and translated into English after which the symbols and the metaphorical expressions in it are analysed. Translation is a significant exercise that requires maximum attention and incorporates culture. This study found out that the indigenous people around Lake Victoria had developed elaborate and viable techniques of manipulating and conserving their environment in order to generate resources for their survival.
metaphorical expressions, myth, phenomenology, symbol, translation
Copyright (c) 2022 Jack Ogembo, Cellyne Anudo, Benard Kodak https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Tasfida kama sababu ya Siti binti Saad kutumia mafumbo katika nyimbo zake za taarab
Makala hii inaangaza sababu iliyomsukuma Siti kuishia kutumia mafumbo katika nyimbo zake za Taarab. Sababu yenyewe ni mafumbo kama njia mojawapo ya kuendeleza lugha ya tasfida na miiko katika jamii au mafumbo kama njia moja ya mwimbaji kupamba lugha yake ya uimbaji. Lugha hupambwa kwa mafumbo ili wasikilizaji waweze kuifurahia na kuikumbatia. Siti aliremba nyimbo zake kwa ufundi wa tasfida. Mihimili ya nadharia ya Semiotiki na Mtindo ilitumika katika uchanganuzi wa data. Data za msingi zilipatikana kwa kutumia mbinu ya mahojiano na kwa kusikiliza nyimbo. Wafuasi wa nyimbo hizi kutoka Mombasa na Unguja walihojiwa ili kupata ujumbe mahususi kuhusu nyimbo hizi za Siti Binti Saad. Matokeo ya utafiti yaliwasilishwa kwa njia ya maelezo. Makala haya ni ya manufaa kwa wanafunzi wa fasihi kwa vile yanaonyesha jinsi ya kufasiri mafumbo. Maana mbalimbali za mafumbo ainati yanajitokeza katika makala haya. Aidha, makala haya ni urithi wa fasihi simulizi kwa kizazi kijacho, ni kumbukumbu muhimu kwa nyimbo za mtribu huyu wa Unguja.
Copyright (c) 2022 Job Juma https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The speech sounds, syllable structure and tone system of a less-studied West African language, Lɛtɛ
Aim and Focus: The paper describes the speech sounds, syllable structure and tone system of a less-studied, West African language, Lɛtɛ. Lɛtɛ is a South-Guan language of Ghana, West Africa, and genetically affiliated to the Niger-Congo family of languages. Eberhard, Simons and Fennig (2019) sub-classifies Guan (Niger-Congo, Kwa) into two language clusters: North Guan and South Guan, to which Lɛtɛ belongs. Findings: Lɛtɛ has a symmetrical set of nine vowels, 4 front vowels produced with an advanced tongue root position and four back vowels produced with a retracted tongue root position. The ninth vowel is a low central vowel, /ǝ /, which is produced with an advanced tongue root position, but unpaired. Its vowel and consonant systems are akin to those of related African languages. Designs and Methods: The study was purely field-based. Data were collected through elicitation from language speakers who resided in the speech community. Speech sounds and tone patterns were audio recorded and later transcribed and analysed. Implications/Conclusion: Tongue root vowel harmony controls vowel distribution to a large measure. A single syllable may be constituted by a vowel, a consonant followed by a vowel (CV), or a nasal consonant. The lexical tone helps to distinguish meaning, whereas the grammatical tone functions to mark tense and aspectual distinctions. It was observed that in many respects, aspects of Lɛtɛ phonology described are akin to other Kwa languages in the Niger-Congo family.
Lɛtɛ; phonology; vowels; consonants, syllable; tone
Copyright (c) 2022 MERCY AKROFI ANSAH https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Morphosyntactic analysis of Asante’s family names
This paper sought to address family names among the Akan of Ghana and considers naming as an important aspect of the Akan society. It looks at Akan names within the preview of linguistics anthropology. The data were collected through interviews, questionnaires and documents from school register and electoral commission register. The descriptive method was used to analyse the data. The study shows that names are words that can generate morphological aspects such as compounding, affixation, nomination, reduplication as well as syntactic aspects such as sentences and phrases form from them. Names such as Asafo - Agyei, Frimpↄn Manso, Boatemaa are under the study of morphology aspect such as stem, compounding, affixation, reduplication, nomination.
Akan, compounding, morphology, morphemes, syntax
Copyright (c) 2022 Sarah Sarfo, Anthong Kwaw Armoo, Anna Serwaa-Nkrumah, Broni Isaac https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Udhihirikaji wa mtafsiri katika muktadha wa baadaukoloni
Maendeleo katika taaluma ya tafsiri mwanzoni mwa miaka ya tisini yalibadilisha mtazamo kuhusu dhana ya tafsiri na kutambua upana na mabadiliko yake. Kupanuka kwa upeo wa taaluma hii kumeeleza na kuumba upya dhima ya mtafsiri. Nafasi ya mtafsiri imebadilika kutoka kwa daraja la kuvusha ujumbe pasi kuuathiri hadi kumtambua mtafsiri kuwa kiungo muhimu kinachoathiri mchakato na zao la tafsiri. Dhana kama vile ulinganifu, uaminifu pamoja na uhakiki wa ubora ambazo awali zilikuwa zenye umuhimu mkuu katika taaluma ya tafsiri zimesukumwa pembeni huku vipengele visivyokuwa vya kiisimu vikitiliwa mkazo. Ufasili na utafsiri wa matini ambao awali ulikuwa mchakato wa kiisimu na kimatini umebadilika na kujiegemeza zaidi kwa vipengele vya kitamaduni na vipengele nje ya isimu. Hali hii ni kweli tunapodhukuru tafsiri za fasihi katika muktadha wa baadaukoloni. Mtafsiri anadhihirika bayana kupitia kwa uteuzi wa kimakusudi ambao unajiegemeza kwa mikakati ya uibuaji ugeni hasa katika kushughulikia vipengele vinavyofungamana na utamaduni chanzi. Mikakati hii inaibua lugha mesto ambayo inahusiana kwa karibu na dhana ya utofauti wa kiisimu na kitamaduni katika mazingira ya baadaukoloni. Kwa kuchunguza tafsiri ya riwaya ya Caitaani Mutharaba-ini ya Ngugi wa Thiong’o kwa Kiingereza, Makala hii imejadili jinsi matini tafsiri imegeuzwa kuwa jukwaa la kukabiliana na ubabe wa kibepari katika ngazi ya isimu na utamaduni pamoja na jinsi udhihirikaji wa mtafsiri unavyobainika kupitia kwa kuchunguza uteuzi wa kimakusudi wa kiisimu ambao mtafsiri alifanya.
Uibuaji ugeni, Tafsiri za Baadaukoloni, Udhihirikaji wa Mtafsiri
Copyright (c) 2022 Vincent N. Magugu, Robert W. Oduori, Mark M. Kandagor https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Violation of cooperative principles among Facebookers in a Kenyan political discourse
This study investigated Cooperative Principles that are violated by facebookers while discussing political issues in Kenya. The research was guided by the theory of Cooperative Principles of Grice (1975) that advocates for the adherence of certain conversation maxims in a conversation. The study adopted a qualitative research design since it intended to explain a naturally occurring phenomenon. The study used the Facebook pages of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and Hon. William Ruto as sources of data. The study adopted purposive sampling to identify eighty five comments to form data. The eligibility criterion for choosing the sample included comments posted between 1st January to 30th April 202l. In collecting data, the researcher recorded the comments made by the participants from the Facebook pages. To enhance validity of data, the researcher used newspaper cuttings from the local dailies. Using the tenets of the theory, the researcher used content analysis to analyze his data. The study showed that facebookers violate all the cooperative principles while discussing political issues in Kenya. The study concluded that there is need for interlocutors to engage cooperative principles in there discourse so as to bring satisfactory meaning out of their comments.
cooperative principles, Facebook, political discourse
Copyright (c) 2021 Walter Odiaga Akello, Riro Matinde, Stephen Oluoch https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Examination of the syntactic features of transitivity in Akan verbs of cutting, contact by impact, change of state and perception.
The study aimed to examine the syntactic features of transitivity in Akan verbs of cutting, contact by impact, change of state and perception. The study adopted a descriptive and qualitative study. The method applied in the data analysis was distribution method. Data were collected from two major sources. The first one is the primary source. Due to my introspective knowledge as a native speaker of the Asante Twi, I constructed some of the examples myself as and when they occurred to me. The second is the secondary source. The analysis is pursued within the study of functional approach to grammar. The findings show that the cut, change of state contact by impact and perception verbs in their syntactic construction encodes the use of instrument and also involves subject and object in the structure. This research it will help in the analysis of morpho-syntactic structure of the language as well as other languages.
Syntactic features, Transitivity, Grammatical meaning, Verbs, Akan
Copyright (c) 2021 Collins Owusu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Filamu za runinga kama chombo kinachomdhalilisha mwanamke wa kiafrika katika asasi ya ndoa
Tandavu la Korona, ambalo limefaulu kuzitawisha familia majumbani, limezipa umaarufu filamu katika runinga za Kenya. Makala hii inatathimini filamu ya runinga kama chombo kinachomdhalilisha mwanamke wa Kiafrika katika asasi ya ndoa. Maria, filamu ambayo ilishabikiwa na Wakenya wengi katika TV ya Citizen ndiyo inayoshughulikiwa. Kwa kutumia nadharia ya ufeministi wa Kiislamu, makala hii inachanganua nafasi ya wahusika wa kike katika kumnasua mwanamke wa Kiafrika kutoka katika minyororo ya asasi ya ndoa ambayo imemtia kifungoni kwa muda mrefu mpaka asiweze kujitegemea. Makala hii imegundua kwamba, katika ndoa nyingi, mwanamke mwafrika ameendelea kusawiriwa kama kiumbe anayemtegemea mwanamme kijamii na kiuchumi. Kwa hivyo, kwa vile ushabikiaji TV unaendelea kuwa na athari kubwa kwa watazamaji, tunapendekeza kuwa ingekuwa bora kama mwanamme na mwanamke wangesawiriwa kama viumbe sawa wanaotegemeana na kuhitajiana katika ndoa.
Tandavu la Korona; Asasi ya Ndoa; Soap Opera; Walala Hai; Walala Hoi; Madongoporomoka; Bwanyenye
Copyright (c) 2021 Thedius Bwire Ojiambo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
An optimality theoretic approach to Dholuo speakers’ perception and learnability of RP English sibilant phonemes
The segmental phonology of English comprises of vowels and consonants, which are critical in the process of second language learnability. The Sibilants of RP English are /s, z, ʃ,ʒ, ʤ,ʧ/ which consists of fricatives and affricates. From an acoustic phonetics perspective, sibilants are louder and have a higher frequency. Dholuo, which is a Western Nilotic language has /s,ʒ, ʤ,ʧ/ sibilants in its inventory. The objective of the present research was to examine the perception and production of RP English sibilants by Dholuo speakers who have a smaller inventory of sibilants in their first language compared to English. A true experimental design using a series of ten, fifteen- twenty minutes lesson session with the Luo students was used to test the perception and production of sibilants within Dispersal Theory Bidirectional Optimality Theory. A set of sibilant minimal pairs were used in the pre-test, training and post-test phase of the study. A series of One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and three-way ANOVA show that there was a statistically significant effect of the training session on rate of accuracy of perception. The responses modelled within Bidirectional Optimality Theory show that there was constraint demotion and that RP English sibilants are learnable.
Copyright (c) 2021 gerry ayieko https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Analysis of the syntactic structure of proverbial personal names in Dagbani
This study focused on the syntactic analysis of proverbial personal names in Dagbani. Among the Dagbamba, names and for that matter proverbial personal names are not only significant in expressing their tradition and culture but they also contain grammatical properties. The study discussed the syntactic structure of proverbial personal names in Dagbani. The primary data was obtained from native speakers while the secondary data was taken from a selected group of Dagbani literature books and the school registers of a selected school. In all two hundred and eighty (280) proverbial personal names were collected and one hundred and twenty (120) names analysed. Syntactically, the study showed that Dagbani proverbial personal names can be analysed into phrases and sentences. They can be analysed into simple and compound sentences which function as imperatives, declaratives, interrogatives and conditional sentences.
Syntactic structure, Dagbani, proverbial personal names, Culture, Compound sentences.
Copyright (c) 2021 Abdul Rahaman Musah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Identifying and use of imagery in selected songs of Mrisho Mpoto
This work aims to analyse the imagery in the songs and how they are contributions in selected songs of Mrisho Mpoto. This research was led by the stylistic theory that deals with the use of words in a unique way and thus makes language difficult or easy, preventing the writers feelings that seems to be ridiculed, affectionate, optimistic, harshness or sarcasm, the use of stylistic devices such as similes, metaphor, personification among others. The selection of stylistic devices used to influence the target audience, the use of style by focusing on specific contests in story telling or telling events. However, this research focused on three main pillars; words are used artificially making the language difficult or easy, the author's feelings are evident, expressing ridicule, affection, optimism, harshness or sarcasm from the use of language; the selection of used style brings attraction to the target audience. The findings of this research reveals that the songs of Mrisho Mpoto due to the use of imagery many of their lovers do not understand them very well. So we suggested further research into this composition in the aspects of art.
Copyright (c) 2021 Geoffrey Mandila https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Vowel harmony: The case of Anee and Iguae and Boka dialects in Ghana
This paper examined a dialect of the Akan language which is traditionally labeled Fante in the literature. The study highlights the Anee sub-dialect of (Mfantse) Fante nominal prefixes in the context of vowel harmony. Data was generated from fishermen, Religious members during church services, and learners from Komenda College practicing schools. Analysis of data was based on Iguae and Boka sub-dialects of Mfantse against Anee sub-dialect. It was realized after thorough analysis that the Anee dialect has a unique feature that accepts substitution of unrounded vowels with rounded vowels. The theory that influenced this investigation was Vowel harmony and Correspondence theory. This theory covers the major issues in the generative analysis of vowel harmony and vowel typology. Most speakers of the Anee sub-dialect of Mfantse precisely Komenda through to Shama areas follow the rules of vowel harmony to some extent. Vowel harmony being discussed here can be seen as the restriction on the distribution of vowels which makes it necessary for the vowels of only one set to occur in a given word.
correspondence, dialect, harmony, nominal, prefixes, substitution, unrounded, vowel
Copyright (c) 2021 Sophia Efua Cobbinah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Language and power relations in gendered discourse within EkeGusii: Implications on pedagogy in the Kenyan context
This paper presents a discussion of language and power relations between men and women in EkeGusii and makes consideration with regards to how EkeGusii has constructed men and women to use language differently. Data was collected through participatory observation as well as own intuition and document analysis. The social theory is used to analyse data. Social theory is fundamental in this paper because gendered discourse is a social rather than biological construction and that social theory analyses language in society and what language use means to its users. It is recommended that EkeGusii chinsoni (statutes) for language be aligned with the Kenya Constitution in order to guarantee equal linguistic rights to both men and women. There is need for the curriculum to consider the learner’s sociolinguistic culture in order to play mitigative role in enabling girls realise equity of participation in the classroom process since school is taking over the socialization of an individual.
culture, gendered discourse, pedagogy, power relations, social construction, statutes
Copyright (c) 2021 Beatrice Kemunto C. Obwoge https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Co-occurrence of valence increasing processes in Lutsotso
Lutsotso has valence increasing operations like the applicative, causative and instrumental. It is possible to have argument changing processes co-occurring or combining on the verb. This paper discusses the effects of co-occurrences of several derivational affixes, the constraints that determine their order and their syntactic and semantic implication on the basic SVO sentence structure of Lutsotso. The mirror principle which states that ‘morphological derivations must directly reflect syntactic derivations and vice versa is applied. This principle shows that there is a certain order in which morphemes co-occur in a given derived verb. Data was collected through informal interviews, participant and non-participant observation, translation tests and texts written in Lutsotso. The study established that the Lutsotso verb consists of different morphemes expressing different grammatical meanings and that the derivational morphemes modify the syntactic and semantic structure of the sentence of Lutsotso. Further, the study also established that the valence increasing operations of the applicative, causative and instrumental affect the internal argument and can co-occur in a given derived verb. Additionally, this study will contribute to knowledge by revealing the richness and internal complexity of Lutsotso language. Correspondingly, a good description of the valence changing morphology of Lutsotso will provide useful insight into syntactic theory.
applicative, causative, instrumental, lutsotso, verb
Copyright (c) 2021 Evaline Osore, Hellen Odera https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Analysis of face threatening acts on the faces of widows and widowers in funeral context
This study intended to identify the acts of speakers that threaten the faces of widows and widowers in funeral condolences. The study was guided by Penelope Brown and Levinson Stephen’s Politeness Theory and Ervin Goffman’s views on politeness which deals with face issues, face threatening actions and how to save the face from such actions. Population of the study was the speakers who gave condolences to widows and widowers in selected funerals. Descriptive research design guided this study. Purposive sampling was used to identify funerals and speakers. The study employed participant observation as a method of data collection. The study revealed that; despite the fact that speakers tried as much as possible not to threaten the faces of the widows and widowers, sometimes they used words that threatened them especially when they gave complaints, advice, orders and requests to them. The study concluded that if polite language when expressing condolences in a funeral context will be embraced, it will play a big role in respecting the other’s privacy and make mourning comfortable among the AbaGusii.
Copyright (c) 2021 Judy Nyaboke Nyabuto, Francis Kariithi, Eucabeth Mongare https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Perspective comparison of structures and themes of two ancient epic poems and Muyaka’s poems
Literature explains about events and occurences of a paticular society. The Works of literature copy structures, styles and themes from other literary Works written before them. In this perspective, this journal aims at comparing structures and themes between two ancient epic poems and poems written by Muyaka. This ancient epic poems are: Utendi wa Al- Inkishafi and Liyongo. Through this analysis we would establish if there are similar and different structural and themal characteristics between Muyaka’s poems and the two ancient epic poems given that they were composed at the same period. This analysis was led by the theory of classicism. The tenets of this theory are: ancient terminologies, high level of creativity, quoting writers who wrote in different time periods among many others. According to the theory of classicism, the Works of literature were measured based on other literary works. This measurement brought about rules and regulations that identified good composition of literary works. On the other hand, epic poems that were discussed in this journal are in the book of Tenzi za Kale that was edited.
classicism, epic, literature, poems, structure, themes
Copyright (c) 2021 Jessee Murithi, Mwanzu Daniel Misigo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Inherent complements as source of disambiguation of multi-meaning verbs in Bono
This study is an investigation of multi-meaning verbs in the Bono dialect of the Akan (Kwa, Niger-Congo) language. The study further explores certain verbs in Bono whose meanings are conditioned by a specific inflectional form. Using Type Craft annotated data from ethnographic investigation of fifteen native speakers of Bono, we discuss issues regarding these verbs and categorize them into homonyms and polysemes based on their relatedness. The findings indicate that many Bono verbs change their meaning as soon as the complement changes which superficially presupposes that the verb is meaningless. However, in reality such verbs are meaningful, but that Bono has many homograph verbs which need linguistic contexts for disambiguation. It was observed that as much as the change of a complement leads to a change in meaning; in the same way the change of a verb brings about a meaning change. It was also established that the verbs bu ‘respect’, boa ‘lie’, de ‘called’, ho ‘get it’, occur only in the present form, and that they form past tense either through a past marker na or settle for a synonym. The verb Ho cannot form negation and can only occur in an imperative construction. But just like the others it occupies the slot of a verb in a construction.
Copyright (c) 2020 Johnson Baah, Cecilia Agyei Agyemang, paul Anning, Mohammed Issaka https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Analysis of syntatic effects of some names of the deities in the Bono Kingdom
The investigation analyzed the syntactic effects of Some Name of Bono Kingdom. The analysis took into consideration one hundred and twenty (120) respondents as the population sample with an equal gender distribution of sixty (60). The purposive sampling technique was employed to elicit essential information for the investigation. Unstructured interviews, observation, and recording were the data collection instrument. The syntax processes were discovered as the effects of Some Names of the Deities in the Bono Kingdom. Some of these effects were phrases, clauses, simple sentences, complex sentences, and compound sentences as well as clausal truncation. The dependent and independent clauses were also outlined. This investigation had X – Bar Theory propounded by Noam Chomsky (1957) as its reference point. It was finally realized that the effects of syntax on the Names of Deities in the Bono Kingdom were fundamental in the Akan setup.
clausal truncation, deities, complex sentence, simple sentence, syntax.
Copyright (c) 2020 David Adu Tuffour https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0