A semantic analysis of Gikuyu nouns using the semantic field theory
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Date
2012Author
Gitau, Hannah N
Type
ThesisLanguage
en_USMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study has demonstrated that GIkuyu nouns are viable for semantic analysis by use of the Semantic Field Theory. As proved by many Linguistic Scholars,
nouns make a major part of speech in any language, thus making it imperative for analysis. The data collection has been done by use of ethnographic (case
study) methodology.
The researcher's intuitive knowledge as a native speaker of the language has come in handy. Other native speakers of the language have also been engaged through face to face interviews, so as to avert any personal influence. This has been done practically through speaking and eliciting
information from the respondents.
The analysis of the data has been done by use of SFT, to analyze how the concepts denoted by nouns in the same field are strongly connected to each other in meaning. Componential Analysis has been applied to offer a systematic framework for analyzing the nouns in given domains. Library research has also been done. The findings of this study are expected to enrich the already existing linguistic scholarship and assist future linguists who may have interest in analyzing words semantically in any natural language.
Publisher
University of Nairobi, Kenya