A Semantic Analysis of Suba Kinship Terminologies

Abstract

This study is a semantic analysis of Suba kinship terms using Frame Semantic Theory. One of the ways of preserving a dying language is by writing about it; Olusuba is grouped among the endangered languages in Kenya. The focus of the study was to discuss the terms used to refer to different kinship relations in Olusuba. The main factor that forms kinship relations is genealogical relationships, therefore, even though kinship terminologies are mainly based on biological relations, social relations also form part of these kinship terms. Furthermore, differences in languages brings out the differences in kinship terminologies from one society to another. Cultural difference with regard to organization, structure, content and meaning of this kinship terms is the most important aspect that makes these kinship terms different. The study examined Olusuba kinship terms by discussing how the culture of Olusuba forms the background to the meanings of their kinship terms. The focus was on Olwivwang’ano dialect spoken in Mfangano Island, where this study’s data was collected. Seven participants who were 36 to 83 years old were interviewed in the process of data collection. The process used in data collection was a focused group discussion. Through this study, it was established that Suba made use of both classificatory and descriptive system of classification. Suba is a patriarchal society as lineage is carried through the male line. There is a distinction between the consanguine and affine kin in Suba community. Different kinship terms profile different frames and some of these frames form sub frames. There are attitudes associated with specific kinship terms hence qualifying them to be prototypical.