Forms and Functions of Borrowed Honorifics among Gikuyu Speakers of Nairobi County
Loading...
Date
2014-10-09
Authors
Maina, Zipporah Njeri
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
This is a sociolinguistic study of language use in society. The study aims at establishing the honorifics that Gikuyu speakers have borrowed from other languages as a result of language contact. The study will also investigate how the social variables of age, education and social context influence the use of these honorifics. It will further determine their functions. The Borrowing Transfer Theory and the Communicative Competence Theory will guide the data collection, analysis, interpretation and discussion. The data for the study will be collected
from Kasarani Constituency of Nairobi County which will be purposively selected. The data s will be obtained through Participant observation, interviews and tape recording of
spontaneous speech. A total of 24 respondents selected purposively will be interviewed,
observed and recorded as they interact in their social networks. The qualitative and
quantitative research designs will be used in this study. The data will be analysed
qualitatively through linguistic descriptions and quantitatively through percentages and
frequencies which will be presented in tables in order to give a clear picture of the use of
borrowed honorifics in view of the age and education of the respondents.