A Descriptive Study of the Idiom in Lubukusu:a Relevance Theoretical Approach

Abstract

This research work presents a linguistic study of the description and comprehension of the idiom in LuBukusu. The research seeks to investigate on the types of idioms in LuBukusu, identify the processes of their comprehension, investigate the role of context in processing meaning and finally rate the adequacy of Relevance. Theory in handling the idioms in LuBukusu language. The research uses Relevance Theory by Dan Sperber and Deidre Wilson (1986 &1995). This is a theory of cognitive communication that offers an insight on how hearers infer meaning (for non-compositional language use). Gutt (2000:31), points out that human communication creates an expectation of relevance on the part of the hearer that his attempt at interpretation yields adequate contextual effects at a minimal processing effort. Wilson and Sperber (2012:103) state that the human system of perception, memory and inference has a major deductive device that plays a role in spontaneous inference. The human mind is such that it identifies and takes note of important aspects in the environment, singling out and processing information that is maximally relevant. The researcher obtained data through the qualitative method. Data was mainly collected from the primary sources and also accessing real life situations by directly observing the natural setting. The primary sources included: weddings, initiation meetings, religious gatherings, funerals etc. The research found out that the idioms in LuBukusu can be classified into the categories of transparency, semi-transparency, semi-opaque and opaque. The research also found out that Relevance Theory adequately provides the tenets of description and comprehension procedure of the different types of idioms in LuBukusu.