Language and Linguistics

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.chuka.ac.ke/handle/chuka/273

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 35

A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF KENYA’S BUILDING BRIDGES INITIATIVE SPEECHES
(Chuka University, 2023-10) GITONGA EURIDISE NKATHA
Language is vital in communication between people. People understand each other through shared knowledge between the speaker and the hearer. It is a major mechanism within the process of social construction, seen as an instrument for consolidating, manipulating concepts, seek attention, create relationships in the area of power, and use it as tool to control the society. Anchored in Critical Discourse Analysis theoretically, this study shed light on the crucial use of language in the society. The study sought to explain specific linguistic ways in which language is used to represent an instrument of control and manifest symbolic power in the Kenya’s Building Bridges initiative speeches. The study developed and proposed various strategies of (de) legitimization employed by political leaders in Kenya to justify their course of action regarding the Building Bridges initiative. The study was guided by two objectives; to analyze how political actors (de) legitimize the Building Bridges Initiative in Kenya and to analyze how political actors, use language to create a Kenyan identity through the Building Bridges Initiative discourse. Qualitative research methodology was used in this study, of which the descriptive survey method was employed for the analysis of data. YouTube videos of speeches made by specific political actors regarding the Building Bridges Initiative since November 2019 to 2021 were purposively sampled, transcribed and analyzed in their written form. De(legitimization) strategies were identified until saturation point was reached where no new strategies were being generated without resulting to redundancy. These were then categorized into thematic areas in accordance to the objectives of the study. The study established that strategies used by politicians in (de)legitimizing BBI were; authorization, rationalization, moral evaluation, and mythopoeic. It also established that majority of the speakers used language to attract attention, and advance ideologies that created a Kenyan identity. The study found that Kenya’s identity was to a large extent shaped negatively in the BBI discourse with only two out of the six having a positive orientation. These included: Kenya as a nation in need of national conversation, Kenya as a country struggling with tribalism and corruption and Kenya as a peaceful country with fairness and inclusivity. The information gathered in this study is useful to linguists since it provides them with ways to understand the language of politicians world over. Politicians may use language with hidden meaning that needs unravelling. Therefore, this study offers some of the ways of understanding and disambiguating what the politicians really say in their speeches. From the findings of this research, the researcher suggests the following areas for interested scholars: A study on creation of identity using other theories for example politeness theory, speech acts theory, or conceptual metaphor theory.
A pragma-semiotic analysis of always sanitary pads advertisements in Kenya
(Chuka University, 2024) Njenjere, Karambu Fridah
Pragma-semiotic analysis combines pragmatism and semiotics. Pragmatism, in this study, looks at politeness strategies employed in Always Sanitary pads advertisements as well as meanings of the various semiotic resources used in these multimodal images. In order to investigate the complex interactions between pragmatic functions and semiotic resources in the meaning-construction process within multimodal texts, this study conducts a pragma-semiotic analysis of Always Sanitary Pads advertisements in Kenya. Through an analysis of linguistic and non-linguistic components, the study sought to clarify the ways in which signs are utilized to accomplish communicative intentions in various settings. Studies on pragma-semiotics have been conducted on advertisements of Nike-air shoes, beauty products in printed magazines, in telecommunication and in banking industry. However, particular attention has not been given to combine multimodality with pragmatic acts for the analysis of advertisements in Kenya. The present research filled up this gap by exploring the ways in which Always Sanitary Pads advertisers utilize different semiotic resources such as visuals and language choice to create persuasive messages that resonate with their customers guided by two theoretical frameworks which comprises Multimodal Theory by Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen, alongside the Theory of Politeness by Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson. The research design utilized non-probability sampling. A guiding card served as the instrument to sort out the adverts for sampling as well as for data analysis. This research found out that Always Sanitary Pads advertisements use politeness strategies to lessen threats to face, and that these advertisements contain multimodal components composed of semiotic resources that are interacted creatively hence contributing in the shaping of the perceptions of feminine hygiene products
A pragma-semiotic analysis of communication strategies in vaccination campaigns against mpox in Kenya
(Chuka University, 2025) Chemiati, Rebecca Chemutai
The success of any public health campaign is dependent on its ability to strategically utilize various modes of communication to effectively convey complex health messages. Meaning-making in public health campaigns is dependent on the strategic integration of language and other modes of communication. Integration of these two linguistics fields provides a comprehensive understanding of how public health campaigns navigate through the complexities of effective communication in a multi cultural society. The motivation behind this study is based on the need to understand how semiotic and pragmatic elements collaboratively work to create meaning. The study focused on analysis of meanings and the functionality of speech acts in vaccination campaigns against Mpox in Kenya. This study adopted a descriptive research design guided by the Multimodal Theory by Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen and John Searle’s Theory of Speech Act. The study population comprised all publicly available communicative materials used in the vaccination campaigns against Mpox in Kenya. Purposive sampling was used to identify campaign materials that possess linguistic elements only relevant to the study. A total of thirty campaign materials were sampled. However, the final sample size was dependent on the point of saturation. The data was sourced from official websites of institutions of public health and digital media platforms. An integrated pragma-semiotic approach was utilized during data analysis where visuals were classifieds as icons, indexes and symbols to examine their communicative functions while speech acts were analysed according to Searle (1976). This document is made up of six chapters; chapter one, two and three comprise the introduction, literature review and research methodology respectively. Chapter four highlights meanings in vaccination campaigns against Mpox in Kenya. The study finds that the campaigns made use of various semiotic resources such as icons, indexes, symbols, spatial arrangements, layouts and colour schemes which carried multiple meanings. The icon of a vaccine bottle for instance connotates hope through the administration of the vaccine which is a lifesaving substance. This reinforces the idea that the relevant authorities are concerned with the protection and preservation of life. Symbolically, this icon is a representation of defence and immunity.Chapter five engages speech acts in vaccination campaigns against Mpox in Kenya. The findings of the pragmatic analysis reveal the use of five types of speech acts as categorized by Searle (1976) and hierarchical structuring which operate as complex illocutionary arrangements. Chapter six contains the summary of findings, conclusions and recommendations. This study has validated that the union of pragmatic and semiotic elements in the campaigns against Mpox generated an integrative communicative power which not only informed the population regarding Mpox pandemic but also advocated certain preventive methods, primarily vaccination among high-risk groups. The study demonstrates how verbal and visual elements interact dynamically to produce persuasive messages that impact behaviour change. This study advances the theoretical frameworks utilized by demonstrating how various illocutionary acts are reinforced and modulated through semiotic resources to inform, create awareness and promote vaccination uptake. It bridges the gap between theory and applied communication practices. The integration thus provides a comprehensive understanding of the process of meaning-making. It offers insight on the role of communication strategies in the design of more effective public health campaigns.
AFRE 121: INTRODUCTION TO FOREIGN LANGUAGES: FRENCH/GERMAN/CHINESE
(Chuka University, 2023-04-18) Chuka University
Analysis of persuasive and politeness strategies used in sermons by pentecostal preachers in Nyeri County
(Chuka University, 2015) Kibuchi Robert Warui
Language is used to persuade, dissuade, manipulate, and develop diverse power and political beliefs. Politicians, lobbyists, corporate experts, and religious speakers, among others, achieve enormous power, influence, and profit by skillfully employing words.This research sought to discover the persuasive strategies and politeness used by religious preachers in their discourse within the church context. The purpose of this study was to analyze persuasive and politeness strategies used in sermons by Kenyan Pentecostal preachers in Nyeri county. The objectives that guided this study were; to describe the persuasive strategies used by Pentecostal preachers to execute their persuasion agenda and to analyze politeness strategies used by Kenyan Pentecostal Preachers in Kenya. The data source was audio recordings from the sermons of three preachers. The population of study was all the sermons with politeness and persuasive strategies. Purposive sampling was used to select five sermons with persuasive techniques and politeness. The research design of this study was qualitative. A card was used in this study by isolating the persuasive strategies and politeness strategies applied in the discourse of the Pentecostal preachers. Two theories were used to analyze data. Politeness theory was used to analyze data for the first objective while Aristotle theory of persuasion was used for the second objective. The study revealed that preachers employed different persuasive techniques to influence belief, evoke emotion and t encourage action. It was also found that the preachers strategically used a range of politeness strategies and they relied on the frameworks of the negative politeness, and positive politeness, bald-on-record and off-record communication. Indirectness, hedging, apologies depersonalized addressing characterized negative politeness strategies that are oriented towards maintaining the autonomy of the hearer. the preachers strategically used a range of politeness strategies and they relied on the frameworks of the negative politeness, positive politeness, bald-on-record and off record. The study is of relevance to sociolinguistics and pragmatics because it provides information on how politeness and persuasion works in the church discourse. In addition, the results offer helpful information to the interlocutors on the use of proper strategies to ensure successful and decent communication, where everybody during the contact feels listened to and appreciated. The results may form basis for effective sermon preparation to achieve different communicative goals. Further research can be done by doing a comparative study on the use of rhetorical devices among different denominations.
CRIMINALITY AND SOCIAL SET- UPS IN POPULAR LITERATURE: AN ANALYSIS OF JOHN KIGGIA’S LIFE AND TIMES OF A BANK ROBBER AND PRISON IS NOT A HOLIDAY CAMP.
(Chuka University, 2020-12) Ikiungu, Dorcus Kagwiria
This study is an attempt to use discourses of popular literature in giving an insightful probe into the relationship between criminality and social set-ups as presented by John Kiggia Kimani in Life and Times of a Bank Robber (1988) and Prison is not a Holiday Camp (1994). The study sought to investigate the various levels of crime evident in both texts in relation to urban and prison set-ups, spaces that are portrayed as conducive for criminal activities. The focus of the study is that there is a positive relationship between increase in criminality and social set-ups. Technical devices that Kiggia uses to present the criminal figure and crime as a subversion of morality have been analyzed. In this study, three theories were considered appropriate. Narratology has been useful in analyzing the stylistic devices that Kiggia uses to bring out factors that have enhanced criminality increase in both texts. Since narratology was found deficient to address societal changes, Critical social theory and new historicism have been utilized to do an assessment of the society [social set-ups] and characters by interrogating how with changing time they too change. These two theories have been pertinent in assessing and criticizing both the urban and prison set-ups in terms of how they motivate criminality levels to rise. The three theories have been hardy in providing a lens to peer into the city and prison’s underworld to get insight on activities practiced there which contribute to criminality growth. Qualitative research design was used to do a literary analysis of the content, by focusing on the characters’ transition from innocence to hardboiled criminals. An exhaustive account of Kiggia’s growth from an amateur pick pocket into a big time robber, and how the social set-ups have contributed has been done. The study has established that criminality and social set-ups cannot be stopped from influencing each other. In addition, this study ascertained that crime and criminals are such ambivalent terms to define in the world of both texts. This is because, in a social set-up where those who purport to be the judges of morality do not uphold any moral values on their part, issues of (im) morality then become volatile. The study arrives at the conclusion that the texts embody a vision of social morality whereby criminality is taken as a subversion of morality, in other words criminality is a construction of the social set-ups. The study is a contribution to the place and definition of popular literature. There are other fields of interest in the works of John Kiggia, which have come up in the course of this study that could be pursued. For instance, one could examine how women in the texts offer themselves for representation or the relevance of Kiggia’s texts to the contemporary problems. Also a comparative study on Kiggia’s works with other urban crime writers or prison, criminality and power in both texts could be done.
DIDACTICS OF ORALITY AND ITS STYLE IN ALTERNATIVE RITES OF PASSAGE AMONG THE IGEMBE PEOPLE OF MERU, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2021-11) NKATHA IMIRONGO, SEVERINA
This study set out to find out the relevance of the messages and styles in oral songs, narratives, and proverbs incorporated in Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) ceremonies as a tool for communication among the Igembe people. Proverbs are identified for analysis because of their brevity, cautionary, summative nature, memorability, and ability to address diverse issues in different contexts. On the other hand, the transient and resilient aspects of oral narratives allow them to respond to emerging realities in the society. The flexibility and spontaneity of oral songs allow them to address diverse issues in the contemporary issues in the community. The study is guided by two objectives: to discuss the didacticism of messages in oral songs, proverbs, and narratives; and to analyse styles used in the genres. This research is based on the functionalist theory and is used to analyse oral genres of literature by looking at the functions they perform in the life of the society. The field research was done to collect raw data which was augmented with data collected from the library. The data was collected from the seclusion sites for girls and graduation ceremonies for the initiated girls and boys using participant observation method and video recording. There were 17 proverbs, 15 oral narratives, and 25 oral songs identified for this analysis. The instruments used were a video camera, pens, and books. Analysis of data collected establishes that despite the changes that have taken place in the society, Igembe people have significantly incorporated use of traditional oral art forms as a tool for communication in ARP ceremonies in the literate society just as they did in the preliterate society. Chapter four discusses transformative role of oral literature in ARP ceremonies. It also highlights virtues inculcated and vices castigated. The virtues include being: hardworking, forgiving, patient, contented, tolerant, prudent, obedient, emphathetic, prayerful, focused, and God fearing among others. On the other hand, the main vices castigated are: thievery, abuse of drugs, sexual immorality, discontentment, laziness, greed, cruelty, naivety, selfishness, and indecent dressing. Finally, the traditions and beliefs of the Igembe people passed down to initiates are highlighted. They include: the social expectations and gender roles of men and women, knowledge about age groups, brotherhood ties, and traditional religious worship of the Igembe people. Chapter five establishes that the three genres use literary stylistic devices to enhance the delivery of the messages incorporated in them. The main styles used in the genres discussed are: mnemonics, parallelism, imagery, code-switching, repetition, symbolism, humour, euphemism, direct address, dialogue, elasticity, intertextuality, satire, ellipsis, direct address, personification, and hyperbole. Each of these stylistic modulations enhances the communication of varied messages to the initiates. Chapter six draws conclusions based on the study. First, the study affirms that use of oral genres and their styles is intrinsic and fluid in ARP ceremonies. Secondly, oral genres address issues affecting the initiates such as promoting good health practices, preservation of integrity and dignity of the youth, maintaining law and order by chastising vices, preservation of cultural values, practices, and beliefs of Igembe people. The study also demonstrates the dynamism of oral genres because they are innovatively and artistically composed and performed in order to address contemporary issues affecting initiates in an interesting and memorable way. Finally, the counsellors used to mentor initiates were of varied levels of education, professions, genders, and age. Oral literature is therefore seen in this study as a key to enhancing peace, gender, and economic empowerment of initiates with the central site being the ARP ceremonies.
ECDE 412: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ECDE
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 2023-08-23) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
EFFECTS OF PEOPLE-TECHNOLOGY INTERACTIONS ON SERVICE INNOVATION IN STAR RATED HOTELS IN NYERI COUNTY
(Chuka University, 2022-09) OLUOCH, GEOFFREY
Recently hotels have incorporated technologies to enhance profitability realized through efficiency in operation, reduced cost of production and improved service quality. Developed countries have integrated people and technology in their hotel systems but there is insufficient information in many developing countries. Developing countries such as Kenya have majorly focused on the determinants of technology adoption and installation of a well-established technological system. While interaction of people and technology is reported to improve the overall operations in Kenyan hotels, research has not adequately shown their specific impacts on service innovation. The objectives of the study were to determine the effects of Employee-Hotel Information System interaction on Service innovation and to determine the effects of Customers-Social Media Interaction on Service Innovation in Nyeri County Star Rated. This study was guided by the theory of people-technology interaction. The study used descriptive cross-sectional research design while targeting 1006 customers and 335 employees derived from bed capacity and human resource data of selected star rated hotels in Nyeri County. Purposive and Convenience Sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 278 customers and 178 employees of star rated hotels in Nyeri County. Primary data was collected by the use of semi-structured questionnaires that were administered to the employees, and customers in the selected hotels. Reliability of the data was tested by use of Cronbach’s alpha at α ≥ 0.70. Data was analyzed by use of Statistical Package for Social Scientists Software (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistic such as percentage was incorporated. Categorical Regression and Exploratory Factor Analysis were used to test the relationship of variables. Significant levels were sought at α≤0.05. The results for Employee-Hotel Information System revealed that usage level of Electronic Point of Sale System (p=0.001) had a great influence on Service innovation in Nyeri County. The usage level of Reservation System (p=0.771), Rooms Management System (p=0.447), Mobile Device Technology (p=0.717), Biometric Technology (p=0.600) and Virtual Reality (p=0.136) had an insignificant influence on service innovation. The result for Customer-Social Media Interaction indicated that Usage of WhatsApp (p=0.001), Facebook (p=0.001) and Twitter (p=0.030) had a direct influence on service innovation. The Usage of Instagram (p=0.586), Website (p=0.124) and Email (p=0135) had insignificant effect on service innovation in Nyeri County. The study concludes that most hotel management had invested on the Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and Electronic Point of Sale System that led to significant contribution to service innovation. The results showed that most of the hotels in Nyeri have adopted certain level of technology for their operations and this has enabled increased service innovation in the form of timely delivery, development of more features of food and beverage products.
ENGL 416: THEORIES OF CONTEMPORARY THEORIES OF SYNTAX
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 2023-08-29) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
ENGL 422: ADVANCED PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 2023-04-13) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
ENGL 435: LANGUAGE PLANNING AN POLICY
(CHUKA UNIVERSITY, 2023-04-12) CHUKA UNIVERSITY
ENGL 442: SEMANTICS AND PRAGMATICS
(Chuka University, 2023-04-27) Chuka University
ENGL 923: TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION
(Chuka University, 2023-04-25) Chuka University
ENGL 931: LANGAUGE ACQUISITION
(Chuka University, 2023-04-28)
GHOST CHARACTERIZATION IN AFRICAN PROSE: A STUDY OF SELECTED NOVELS FROM KENYA, NIGERIA, AND MOZAMBIQUE
(Chuka University, 2023-10) KAINGA KIRIMI JOSEPH
Characterization is an essential element of the African novel. Writers often use characters in novels to put forward their messages. Characters are mostly the mouthpieces of the authors. In Africa, the use of ghosts as characters in creative texts has been a recurrent factor, probably because African fiction has a connection with African oral narratives, which often feature ghost characters. However, there have been little studies on the use of ghost characters in African prose; and how such characters operate to reflect the social and the interpersonal conflicts to reveal the realities in the African continent. This research attempted to fill this gap by examining how ghost characters reflect the social environment and the interpersonal conflicts in the African novels. The study analyzed Under the Frangipani by Mia Couto from Mozambique, The Famished Road by Ben Okri from Nigeria and Terrorist of the Aberdare by Ng’ang’a Mbugua from Kenya. The study has been guided by two objectives; first, to examine how ghost characterization reflects the social environment in the three selected African novels; and second, to examine how ghost characterization reflects the interpersonal conflicts in the three selected African novels. Magical realism theory and in particular Wendy’s (2004) strand has been used to interpret the texts. The study has shown that the selected authors have employed the five principles in the Strand to capture the issues of social environment and interpersonal conflicts in African continent. The literature review showed the gap and indicated that characterization is a crucial literary element in communication with targeted audiences. Qualitative research design has been used to elicit responses on the research area. Close text analysis of the selected novels was carried out to show how the three authors’ used ghost characters to reflect the social environment and the interpersonal conflicts. The data from the primary texts was analyzed as per the stated objectives. The study comprises of six chapters. Chapter one includes background to the study that highlights the problem, objectives of the study and the research questions. Chapter Two comprises the literature review and the theoretical framework. Chapter Three has methodology and ethical considerations. Ghost characterization in reflection of social environment is captured in chapter four, which established that ghost characters reflect social aspects such as African religiosity, social vices like immorality, superstitions, and taboos. On economic; it revealed issues of corruption, economic exploitation, class conflicts, and poverty, lastly, under the political aspect; it explored political violence, bad leadership, and political instability as entrenched in colonial and post-colonial African countries. On ghost, reflection of the interpersonal conflicts in chapter five it has showed that ghost characters appearance causes tensions among other characters. Ghosts’ action, as well as verbal expressions can heighten or lessen conflicts between individuals. The findings in chapter six revealed that ghost characters exhibit the rich African traditions, beliefs and the challenges that engulfed Africans during the colonial and post-colonial period. This has been made possible through the inimitable ability of ghost characters to oscillate in fanciful and phenomenal realms. It also showed that ghost characterization is used to mimic the interpersonal conflicts that results from differences in beliefs, values, goals, and desires for esteem, control, affiliations, and wishes.
KISW 404: KISWAHILI LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION
(Chuka University, 2023-04-26) Chuka University
KISW 811: ADVANCED PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY IN KISWAHILI
(Chuka University, 2023-04-28)
KISW 827: CREATIVE WRITING IN KISWAHILI
(Chuka University, 2023-04-26)
LITT 103: LITERARY LANGUAGE AND PRESENTATION
(Chuka University, 2023-04-27) Chuka University

Browse

Browsing Language and Linguistics by Title