Communicative effectiveness of figurative language in dowry negotiation discourse among kikamba speakers
Abstract
This study focuses on explaining how the interpretation of figurative language is realized
in the Kamba dowry negotiation. The study attempts to clarify how the participants in
this social-cultural practice overcome the constraints related to the figurative language.
Interpretation leading to successful communication; thus paving way for marriage to take
place .The research outlines the informativity of figurative language as well as the role of
cultural background knowledge in the interpretation of the figurative expression in the
dowry negotiation among the Akamba.
Using qualitative research methods of direct observation and interviewing the study
reveals that interpretations of these figures of speech are realized pragmaticaly through
narrowing and broadening processes of lexical pragmatics theory and that cultural
knowledge acts as a context for inferencing .The deeper and hidden meaning of the
figurative language as shown by the many functions it plays in a communication
discourse makes it appropriate for use in the Kamba dowry negotiation practice.
Citation
Master Of Arts In Linguistics and LanguagesPublisher
University of Nairobi