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Item The Challenges of Past Tense Learning Among High School Students of French Foreign Language in Tanzania(Kenyatta University, 2025-12) Mgeni, Dietram EfremReports from the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) on the performance of high school students in French final exams (2019 to 2022), reveal that French Foreign Language learners experience difficulties related to the use of the French tenses, especially past tense (passé composé and imparfait). As we cannot address all challenges in this single research, we focused much on passé composé than imparfait. According to several studies, the majority of French Foreign Language learners cannot apparently use French Past tense (passé composé and imparfait). Based on these NECTA reports, our study aimed at identifying the tense related challenges faced by French Foreign Language learners in Tanzania. The hypothetical argument lies on the fact that, the differences between Swahili-French tenses are the source of difficulties in learning French foreign Language. In Tanzania, from the early childhood, learners acquire their first language L1 (Swahili/vernacular), then English after attending school classes. At fairly advanced age, some learn French Foreign Language (contrary to what critical age theory holds). How can the learners effectively acquire new foreign language aspects they have never known in their prior language (Swahili)? In order to propose practical solutions to reduce academic failure rate and improve foreign language teaching practices in Tanzania, we collected data from teachers and learners of Muyovozi, Milambo, Korogwe, Makongo and Zanaki high schools (these are the only high schools with French language in Tanzania at a time of this research). We used interviews, tests and questionnaires, which were given to both high school students as well as their teachers. The data collected were subjected to analysis through the theory of error analysis, though we had a little discussion on contrastive analysis. The research used purposive and convenience sampling. Regarding the analysis, we included other common tenses, the copies of texts administered to the learners with the use of the past tense, French textbooks used in the educational system of Tanzania and the questionnaire. It is our hope that the results and recommendations provided based on data analysis of this study is useful to the French learners, teachers, government officials and authors of French foreign language teaching materials in Tanzania.Item Magical Realism as a Narrative Strategy in Ben Okri’s The Famished Road and Infinite Riches(Kenyatta University, 2025-11) Mbaabu, Alfred MutumaMagical realism fuses the real and the marvelous to expose the complexities of postcolonial life. The study investigates magical realism as a narrative strategy in representing postcolonial realities in Ben Okri’s The Famished Road and Infinite Riches. This research is driven by the need to understand how postcolonial writers employ the magical to question the contradictions and disillusionment of independence. Drawing on Homi Bhabha’s notions of ambivalence and hybridity, Gayatri spivak’s insights on subalternity and silenced voices and Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of dialogism, the study examines how Okri’s narrative forms challenge colonial authority and reticulate African subjectivity. Chapter Two, The Use of Magical Realism to represent the socio-political ills in The Famished Road and Infinite Riches, finds that Okri exposes corruption, greed and moral decay, contributing to scholarship by demonstrating magical realism’s role in socio-political critique. Chapter Three, The Nexus Between Magical Realism and Postcolonial Discourse, reveals how Okri negotiates Western realism and African cosmologies to express hybridity and cultural resistance, highlighting the link between narrative technique and postcolonial identity. Chapter Four, Ben Okri’s vision of the postcoloniality, shows that his fiction fosters hope, spiritual resilience and imaginative renewal, providing insight into reconstructing African futures. Chapter Five synthesises these findings, arguing that Okri’s magical realism functions as both artistic and ideological tool that critiques power, affirms African subjectivity, and envisions liberated nationhood. Overall, the study contributes to scholarship by positioning magical realism as a critical instrument in postcolonial literature.Item A Morpho-Phonological Analysis of Borrowed Nouns from Luganda to Kupsabiny(Kenyatta University, 2025-11) Cherop, Kapkwomu CharlesIn linguistics, borrowing is significantly used to enrich languages. In the case of Luganda, an established Bantu language spoken in Uganda, existing studies reveal that loanwords have been a major source of vocabulary expansion in Kupsabiny, a Southern Nilotic language spoken in Uganda. However, limited research has been identified dealing with the analysis on morpho-phonological patterns exhibited by borrowed words. This study therefore focuses on a morphophonological analysis of borrowed nouns by Kupsabiny from Luganda. These are two different languages belonging to two different linguistic families. The following objectives guide the study: to examine morphological patterns exhibited by borrowed nouns in Kupsabiny from Luganda in Kapchorwa District, explore phonological patterns exhibited by borrowed nouns in Kupsabiny from Luganda in Kapchorwa District, and determine the process of morphophonology engaged in the adaptation of nouns borrowed in Kupsabiny from Luganda in Kapchorwa District. The study collected qualitative data using a descriptive research design through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, with the aid of an interview schedule and audio tape recorder. Optimality Theory (OT) developed by Kager (1999) was adopted for data analysis. The population targeted was native speakers of the Kupsabiny language within the municipality of Kapchorwa district estimated at 12,399 in number. A purposive sampling procedure was used to settle on a sample size of 50 informants. This was a reasonable number to collect qualitative data for the study. the findings reveal that Luganda borrowed nouns undergo morphological changes to conform to Kupsabiny's noun class system. Additionally, Luganda's borrowed nouns syllable structures and phonemes are modified to align with Kupsabiny's phonotactic constraints. Additionally, the morphophonological modifications applied to Luganda borrowed nouns are essential for maintaining linguistic coherence and intelligibility within Kupsabiny. The findings are intended to shed light on the linguistic dynamics in language contact and adaptation. The findings are also relevant to linguistics enthusiasts, language researchers, and those interested in the intricate workings of language borrowing and language change. The findings therefore seek to contribute to both empirical understandings of language borrowing and adaptationItem Assesment of English Language Oral Skills in Sampled Secondary Schools in Meru County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2025-11) Kithinji, Franklin GikundaThe purpose of this study was to assess how oral skills are presented in the approved Form One course books, find out the activities that the teachers of English use in the pronunciation classroom to evaluate the mastery of proper pronunciation as well as study the end of year teacher made tests to determine whether pronunciation is adequately assessed in Form One. The study objectives were: To find out the in-class methods teachers use in evaluating pronunciation of English phonemes, to examine the end of year teacher-made tests in assessing pronunciation of English phonemes and to assess how oral skills are presented in the approved Form One course books. The study was based on Baker and Westrup’s (2000) PPP (Presentation Practice and Production) model. The research adopted a descriptive survey design and it targeted 9 teachers of English in form one, three approved English course books and five teacher-made end of year tests. Purposive sampling technique was used to sample the schools, teachers and students involved in the study. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire for the teacher, a test assessment checklist and a course book evaluation checklist. Data collected was analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Frequencies of the problematic sounds were drawn and then the figures were presented in tables and graphs. The findings of the study reveal that the teachers use a variety of in-class activities to test the mastery of English phonemes, there are inconsistencies in the presentation of English phonemes assessment practices despite the teachers acknowledging the importance of proper pronunciation and that the presentation of phonemes did not uniformly cut across the sampled approved course books with some of the books with some of the books having a fair presentation of the phonemes while others ignored some of the phonemes that should be handled in class. The study recommends the integration of oral assessment in the national examinations, the revision of the approved course books to reflect more comprehensive oral activities and the provision of resources to support oral assessment.Item A Sociolinguistic Account of Language Loyalty among Kamba Speakers in Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County(Kenyatta University, 2025-11) Musyoki Carolyne MueniThis sociolinguistic study examined language loyalty among speakers of an indigenous language in Kenya. The study dealt with the preservation of the Kikamba language and culture among Kikamba speakers in Yatta sub-county, a rural area in Machakos County. The objectives of the study were to identify the language use patterns among the Kikamba speakers in different domains in Yatta sub-county, establish the effect of age on Kikamba language usage across different domains in Yatta sub-county, and lastly to determine the perceptions and attitudes of Kikamba speakers in Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County, toward their mother tongue. The study was grounded in two theoretical frameworks: Ethnolinguistic Vitality Theory and Domain Theory. The research design consisted of mixed methods, since the questions raised by the research required the use of both qualitative and quantitative data. At first, the semi-structured interviews were implemented to research emotions and viewpoints among the participants, which then led to the use of structured questionnaires for recording the patterns of language use across the different domains. Furthermore, participant observations were conducted parallelly to provide the researchers with scattered insights into the world of everyday language practices. The research considered the language practices not only of the younger Kikamba speakers (those aged 18 to 25 years) but also of the older Kikamba speakers (those above 50 years old) in order to give a complete picture of how the language lives among the Kikamba speakers in Yatta and to provide an idea of the language loyalty in the region. The language use patterns of the respondents, as per the research, revealed that Kikamba is the first language in family interactions which again signals its great use in domestic communication. Nevertheless, apart from the younger speakers, who were quite a few, all the others had already made the switch to Kiswahili in home. This in turn, pointed to the fact that Kiswahili has already gotten quite a strong hold increasing its sphere from educational institutions and media to the whole societal interaction area. Besides, the study found that age is a determining factor with regard to the language use patterns among the various domains. While the older respondents mostly used Kikamba, especially during family and community contacts, it still is a strong sign of cultural attachment and language continuity. On the other hand, the younger participants showed a stronger tendency to use Kiswahili and English, particularly in educational, social, and professional contexts, while keeping Kikamba for home use. Still, this pattern does not imply that the younger speakers have a negative view of Kikamba. Instead, their ongoing use of the language in family settings indicates a deep cultural bond and an acknowledgment of its role in identity and heritage preservation. These results demonstrate the variety of language use in different contexts, the influence of age on communication habits, and the gradual shift of linguistic identity within the community.Item Use of Cohesive Devices among Second Language Learners of English in Secondary Schools in West Pokot County(Kenyatta University, 2025-09) Odari, Geoffrey AgesaCohesive devices are essential for creating unity in writing, which is crucial for effective communication and academic success. Despite the significant emphasis on teaching this skill to learners many of them are unable to utilize these devices effectively in their written texts. The issue is reflected in national examination results, where students require additional support to clearly express ideas as they are poor users of cohesive devices and it is the area where interventions in education are required. This study investigates written texts from secondary school students in West Pokot County with a view to establishing the nature of cohesive devices they use. The study was guided by the theoretical framework proposed by Halliday and Hasan (1976). The research design of this study was descriptive and a combination of both quantitative and qualitative approaches.The study used stratified random sampling whereby 40 students in Form Four within four school clusters namely national, extra-county, county, and sub-county schools were sampled. The way data were collected was through essay writing and questionnaires to determine what students know and how they apply cohesive devices. Fourty essays and fourty questionnaires obtained from the 40 sampled students were analyzed. The first objective of this study was to determine the types of cohesive devices that students in Form Four in the secondary schools in West Pokot County use. The results indicate that students employed different types of cohesive devices namely: reference, substitution, ellipsis and conjunctions. The second objective was to find out how various cohesive devices were employed by students from different cluster schools in West Pokot County. It was also noted that a wider and more precise range of cohesive devices was shown by students in national and extra-county schools than by those in county and sub-county and there were more frequent and often inconsistent uses of simpler devices in the latter group. The third objective was to establish the most commonly used cohesive devices of all schools. Our data shows that the simplest additive conjunctions, in particular and and or, were the most frequent cohesive devices among secondary school learners in the four cluster schools in West Pokot County. The improper use of students and inappropriate use by students signify the requirement of specific measures of training. It is suggested that, learners be taught guided lessons on cohesive devices in English language with the aim that they use these devices differently in their English language essays. Such measures would help enhance the writing abilities of learners, which, in turn, would boost their competence as well as the level of communication in the English language in general.Item The Syntactic Analysis of Empty Categories in Dholuo: A Minimalist Perspective(Kenyatta University, 2025-02) Kodjo, Onyango PeterThe current study aimed to analyze empty categories in Dholuo through the Minimalist Program. An investigation into empty categories was necessary in appreciating the nature of human language while assessing whether Dholuo reflects the principles of Universal Grammar. The research objectives were: to identify empty categories in Dholuo; to examine the roles of empty categories in Dholuo; and to establish how empty categories are accounted for within the Minimalist Program. The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design while focusing on collecting data from a Dholuo text: Poko Nyar Migumba “Poko (noun) the daughter of Migumba (noun)” by Asenath Bole Odaga. The introspection method or native speaker intuition was also used to identify the relevant sentences for analysis. Three competent native speakers of Dholuo were used to corroborate or confirm the authenticity of the sentences. The Minimalist Program was used to explain empty categories in the sentential data. Tree diagrams were used to analyze the sentences. The findings revealed that the PRO exists as an empty category within the infinitival complement clause in Dholuo and that its interpretation depends on the subject of the matrix clause. The NP-trace also exists in Dholuo. As an internal argument or complement, it originates in the post-verbal position for theta marking purposes and then moves higher, leaving behind a trace (an empty category). Moreover, canonical nominal are DPs headed by an overt or null determiner. Concerning the second objective, the PRO is assigned the agent role because its antecedent, the overt subject of the matrix clause, bears the same semantic role. NP-traces are assigned roles such as the agent, the theme and the experiencer. The WH-trace is assigned the semantic role of theme by the verb, a role it retains even after moving. In the third objective relating to how empty categories in Dholuo can be counted for within the Minimalist Program, it emerged that these categories begin in-situ or in base positions where they merge with others to receive a theta role before they move for purposes of feature checking. The syntactic operations of MERGE and MOVE were therefore evident in Dholuo. The study contributes to the existing data on empty categories in general and in African languages in particular. More research should be conducted to compare empty categories in Dholuo with those in similar families of languages.Item A Narratological Examination of the Autobiographies of Jacob J. Akol and Wöndu Steven(Kenyatta University, 2024-12) Mutswenje, Khalemesi PriscahThis study is a narratological examination of two autobiographies from South Sudan: Steven Wöndu’s From Bush to Bush: Journey to Liberty in South Sudan and Akol J. Jacob’s I Will Go the Distance: The Story of a Lost Boy of the Sixties. The project covered three objectives: the analysis of narratorial voices to determine what trends associate with voice in autobiographies, narrative forms, and what role the two had in the selected texts. This study evaluated the prevalent narratological elements, their integration, and the meanings these elements present within the selected texts. This project drew upon autobiography theory that defines the form of autobiographic texts to examine how the form of the two works contributes to the overall meaning of the works. The study adopted narratology as a model through which the selected autobiographies' narrative structure, meaning, and voice were studied and evaluated. The project embraced a qualitative research methodology utilizing capitalized, in-depth textual reading and analysis as shown in the first chapter. The second chapter explores the first objective showing what narratorial voice Wöndu and Akol chose to build the trauma narratives based on the assertions in applicable theories and the literature review. The third chapter covers findings on the narrative forms and structures specifically embedded narratives in the selected texts while chapter four explores the intentions of both narratorial voices and narrative forms or structures The study adds up to the literature on autobiographical analysis that will serve scholars and researchers in fields like literature, trauma studies, and South Sudanese history, writers and authors in conflict-affected regions, educators and students who may interact with narratology and autobiographical writing in literature courses, mental health professionals.Item Linguistic Analysis of the Language of Stereotype in the Kenyan Social Media(Kenyatta University, 2024-07) Meraba, Charles OkemwaThis study is an exploration of language of hate speech used online in the Kenyan realm. The motivation of this study springs from the political turmoil of the Kenya’s 2007 interethnic post-election violence. At this time, facebook users from different political divide were posting hate stereotype texts that had polarized the harmonious communication of the nation. The study identified hate texts used online after which their speech acts and grammatical features were explained. The theories used in the study were Benesch Model of identifying hate speech, Halliday Systemic Functional Grammar and speech Act Theory where the expressions were analyzed based on the nature of the verb they exhibited and the attitude inferred towards the targeted audience. With regard to language of stereotype, the study focused on only texts selected using the Benesch Model criterion. Twenty five texts were obtained from the online sources. These are facebook sites were namely: Pwani si Kenya and Cord Effect. In some case, the researcher presented the findings using tables and some cases some examples were listed before analysis base on the study’s objective. The main objectives of this study are: to describe the selected facebook stereotype texts by use of Halliday Systemic Functional Theory, to analyze the facebook selected stereotype texts using Speech Act Theory and to establish the connection the hate texts speech acts and the Benesch Model of identifying hate speech. In the findings, the study noted that the Systemic Halliday Functional Grammar theory was applicable in the analysis and description of hate speech texts in terms of their grammatical features. The analysis was done by placing the sampled texts into categories like material, mental and relational processes. These categories were drawn based on the nature of the verbs exhibited on the text. This is the principle that governs the SFL theory. The study also noted that usingthe Speech Act Theory, Searle’s categories were further applicable in analysis of hate speech texts. Searle’s categories were drawn using the speech acts exhibited in the texts. Finally, the study noted that for ease of sampling of the hate speech texts from a group of online texts, the Benesch model criterion was applicable. Using this model, categories were further drawn based on the nature of the stereotype exhibited towards the target group. This is the principle that govern the Benesch Model of identifying dangerous speech further drawing for analysis. The study is intended to contribute to the development of the corpus necessary for defining and analyzing of hate speech in the Kenyan context.Item Language Endangerement and Maintenance of the Ilwana Language in Tana River County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2025-05) Chishenga, Christine MedzaThe Ilwana language, spoken by a minority community in Tana River County in Kenya, has experienced prolonged social contact with dominant languages such as Pokomo, Orma, and Swahili. Following this intense cultural contact with dominant language speakers, is it possible for Ilwana language to resist shift? Guided by Giles et al.’s (1977) Ethnolinguistic Vitality Theory, this study investigates factors contributing to maintaining the Ilwana language in a multilingual setting. Using a mixed methods approach, data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions. Findings reveal that the language is maintained in the home (77%) and religious (71%) domains, but shifts occur in the cultural, workplace, and business settings. Positive attitudes and intergenerational transmission enhance language maintenance, while limited institutional support and urbanization threaten it. This study emphasizes the need for policy interventions to preserve minority languages in Kenya.Item Politeness Techniques in Gikuyu: the Case of Chiefs' Courts in Gatanga Sub-County, Murang'a County(Kenyatta University, 2022-11) Kamau, Chege PeterPoliteness refers to the behaviour that is mindful of other individuals' face wants. It is used by people to reduce conflicts in their interactions. It also allows them to interact in a manner that does not threaten their faces and those of fellow interlocutors. The present study is in the universal field of pragmatics. This study sought to find out the politeness techniques employed in chiefs’ courts in Gatanga Sub-County, to establish how gender and social distance influenced the choice of politeness techniques in chiefs’ courts and how the various politeness techniques helped in conflict resolution in those courts. The motivation for the study was the centrality of polite language use in conflict resolution in chiefs’ courts. It was against this context that the present study was timely. The study used descriptive research design, which was ideal because it would help to establish the politeness techniques employed in chiefs’ courts during conflict resolution. The location of the study was Gatanga sub-county, Murang’a County. The choice was ideal because most of the inhabitants are Gikuyu speakers, who value and use politeness. The target population comprised of adult male and female Gikuyu speakers involved in conflict resolution in chiefs’ courts. Purposive sampling was used to obtain the sample. Purposive testing is a non-likelihood test that is chosen in view of qualities of a populace and the objective of the study. Data containing utterances with various politeness techniques was collected using video recording and observation. The study was guided by Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory. The study established that four politeness techniques namely positive politeness techniques, negative politeness techniques, off-record and bald-on record techniques were used by chiefs and disputants in resolving conflicts. It was also established that gender and social distance influenced the choice of politeness techniques employed and that the four politeness techniques employed in chiefs’ courts contributed to conflict resolution in the selected courts. The study recommended that disputants embrace the use of politeness in resolving their conflicts and that males make more effort in using polite language in conflict resolution. It was therefore anticipated that the results of the proposed study may help to encourage the use of chiefs’ courts by the public in resolving their disputes.Item Language, Gender and Power Relations in the Debate on the Selected Bill in the 11th Parliament of Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2022-10) Odangah, Ceciliane NabwireAbstractItem Frame Analysis of Selected Kenyan Newspaper Headlines on Kenyan Cases at the International Criminal Court (2011-2016)(Kenyatta University, 2021-09) Chepkwony, Philip KipkoechAbstractItem Evaluating Chronotopes of Postcolonial Identity and belonging in Dinaw Mengestu’s Children of the Revolution and All Our Names(Kenyatta University, 2023-06) Mogire, AlliceAbstractItem Absurdity of Love in Romantic Relationships in The Name of Our Fathers and a Sunday at the Pool in Kigali(Kenyatta University, 2023-02) Onchwati, Stephenthe absurdity of love in thc.mm'anlic relationships in /n the Name of our Fathers and A Sunday at the pool in Kigali and the expression of deimmjc by the characters involved. It endeavours to analyse two major ideas, absurdity and romance in these primary texts. There is a convergence between !ove and romance semantically, thus this study employs the two words interchangeably — to convey the same meaning. Absurdity, as a phenomenon, is discussed in two sections as a progressive theory: absurdity in the novel as a genre and absurdity of love in these two primary texts. On romance, the study discusses the characteristics of romance novels in relation to absurdity and the two texts studied in order to distinguish areas of conformity or non-conformity thereof. Another integral aspect in this study is the comparison of the storyline of romance novels to those of the two works studied in reference to absurdity and conformity. The study examines in the two novels: the conformity of the two novels to the conventions of the characteristics and steps of the storyline of romance novels, the marriage stage as the major indicator of the absurdity of romantic relationships in the two novels under study and the aspects of absurdity in the two novels. The study uses the theory of the absurd to analyse the parallel romantic relationships in the two primary texts. The study employs a qualitative research methodology with textual analysis as the major method of data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Primary data is drawn through close reading of the two primary texts. The data collected from the two primary texts was classified in relation to the study’s anticipated chapters. Secondary data was collected from related books, projects, theses, critics, scholarly journals from both print and the Internet. In the that include: that the marriage summative chapter, the study made several findings stage is the major indicator of absurdity in the romantic relationships, that the characteristics in the romantic relationships largely conformed to the characteristics of romance novels, that the romantic relationships in the two novels did not follow the formula of romantic novels and other aspects of absurdity in the romantic relationships. Areas of fun.her study, emanating from the findings, are suggested. It is expected that thls_ research develops new perspectives in the area of romance and hence contribute to the already vast knowledge in the field of the absurdity romantic love.Item Absurdity of Love in Romantic Relationships in the Name of Our Fathers and a Sunday at the Pool in Kigali(Kenyatta University, 2023-02) Onchwati, Stephen71\]!(\71;' :fillld..\’ in‘\'c.sliguujs the absurdity of love in thc.mm'anlic relationships in /n the Name of our Fathers and A Sunday at the pool in Kigali and the expression of deimmjc by the characters involved. It endeavours to analyse two major ideas, absurdity and romance in these primary texts. There is a convergence between !ove and romance semantically, thus this study employs the two words interchangeably — to convey the same meaning. Absurdity, as a phenomenon, is discussed in two sections as a progressive theory: absurdity in the novel as a genre and absurdity of love in these two primary texts. On romance, the study discusses the characteristics of romance novels in relation to absurdity and the two texts studied in order to distinguish areas of conformity or non-conformity thereof. Another integral aspect in this study is the comparison of the storyline of romance novels to those of the two works studied in reference to absurdity and conformity. The study examines in the two novels: the conformity of the two novels to the conventions of the characteristics and steps of the storyline of romance novels, the marriage stage as the major indicator of the absurdity of romantic relationships in the two novels under study and the aspects of absurdity in the two novels. The study uses the theory of the absurd to analyse the parallel romantic relationships in the two primary texts. The study employs a qualitative research methodology with textual analysis as the major method of data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Primary data is drawn through close reading of the two primary texts. The data collected from the two primary texts was classified in relation to the study’s anticipated chapters. Secondary data was collected from related books, projects, theses, critics, scholarly journals from both print and the Internet. In the that include: that the marriage summative chapter, the study made several findings stage is the major indicator of absurdity in the romantic relationships, that the characteristics in the romantic relationships largely conformed to the characteristics of romance novels, that the romantic relationships in the two novels did not follow the formula of romantic novels and other aspects of absurdity in the romantic relationships. Areas of fun.her study, emanating from the findings, are suggested. It is expected that thls_ research develops new perspectives in the area of romance and hence contribute to the already vast knowledge in the field of the absurdity romantic love.Item Absurdity of Love in Romantic Relationships in the Name of Our Fathers and a Sunday at the Pool in Kigali(Kenyatta University, 2023-02) Onchwati, Stephen71\]!(\71;' :fillld..\’ in‘\'c.sliguujs the absurdity of love in thc.mm'anlic relationships in /n the Name of our Fathers and A Sunday at the pool in Kigali and the expression of deimmjc by the characters involved. It endeavours to analyse two major ideas, absurdity and romance in these primary texts. There is a convergence between !ove and romance semantically, thus this study employs the two words interchangeably — to convey the same meaning. Absurdity, as a phenomenon, is discussed in two sections as a progressive theory: absurdity in the novel as a genre and absurdity of love in these two primary texts. On romance, the study discusses the characteristics of romance novels in relation to absurdity and the two texts studied in order to distinguish areas of conformity or non-conformity thereof. Another integral aspect in this study is the comparison of the storyline of romance novels to those of the two works studied in reference to absurdity and conformity. The study examines in the two novels: the conformity of the two novels to the conventions of the characteristics and steps of the storyline of romance novels, the marriage stage as the major indicator of the absurdity of romantic relationships in the two novels under study and the aspects of absurdity in the two novels. The study uses the theory of the absurd to analyse the parallel romantic relationships in the two primary texts. The study employs a qualitative research methodology with textual analysis as the major method of data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Primary data is drawn through close reading of the two primary texts. The data collected from the two primary texts was classified in relation to the study’s anticipated chapters. Secondary data was collected from related books, projects, theses, critics, scholarly journals from both print and the Internet. In the that include: that the marriage summative chapter, the study made several findings stage is the major indicator of absurdity in the romantic relationships, that the characteristics in the romantic relationships largely conformed to the characteristics of romance novels, that the romantic relationships in the two novels did not follow the formula of romantic novels and other aspects of absurdity in the romantic relationships. Areas of fun.her study, emanating from the findings, are suggested. It is expected that thls_ research develops new perspectives in the area of romance and hence contribute to the already vast knowledge in the field of the absurdity romantic love.Item The Syntactic Structure of the Prepositional Phrase in Kiigembe: A Minimalist Perspective(Kenyatta University, 2022-11) Gitonga, JacklineThis study focuse: 7 Kifgembey diale cts 2?. tt}:es};\l}[?gml structure otj the Prgpositional Phrase (PP) in t!le Program. It had three objectives Fflnguage with guidance from the Minimalist in Kiigembe. Secondly, to ide. t'lm, to descnbe.: the syntactic structure of the PP sentences and finally u’) detern;l' ify the semantic Toles of the PP in Kiigembe ascotinted For us; b ctermine whether the Kiigembe PP can be adequately d for using the Minimalist Program. We che he PP for thi h because it has not been the focus of - We shose. the FR.for L3 [5520ey Kiigembe dial s of many studies. Further, the choice of the SIE lialect stemmed from the fact that it has largely been ignored because it is not the dialect used in documented Lo 1BRCY on only the PP. In addit sources. In terms of scope, this study focused 4 *. In addition, the focus was only on the semantic roles and not the syntactic functions of the PP. The Minimalist Program guided this study. Its choice was based on the assumption that it is a universal theory, and therefore, it can 30001}111 for the grammars of all languages. The study was carried out in Kangeta location of Igembe Central constituency, Meru County, where the target dialect is dominant. The purposive sampling method was used to select a sample of ten re.spondem.s who included five female and five male speakers of the Kilgembe dialect. This study employed a descriptive research design. The data needed for this study was Kiigembe sentences from which PPs were extracted and analysed according to their structures. For each distinct structure, a Minimalist tree diagram was drawn for analysis. The data was collected using the informal conversational _recorder aided in capturing the data. In terms of structure, we omposed of a preposition, the head, and a ts take the complement position of the PP. These include the NP and PP and AdvP. We also observed that the PP in Kiigembe plays various semantic roles; locative, temporal, agent, source, direction, accompaniment and instrument. Finally, we found out that the PP in Kiigembe can be accounted for using the Minimalist program. Besides contributing to the studies carried out in the Kimeru in general, this study may also offer insights to scholars of dialectal studies to carry out a comparative analysis of Kiigembe and another the research findings are expected to variety of the Kimeru language. Moreover, r te enhance scholarly understanding of the structure of the Kimeru Prepositional phrase, and therefore, be a resourceful reference point for other related linguistic studies in phrasal syntax.Item Language -Based Games Application in English Grammar Teaching in Upper Primary: A Case of Kilifi county, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2024-11) Akinyi, JulietThis research aimed at determining the pedagogical value of language games as an activity in teaching English grammar to upper primary pupils in Kilifi County. The research sought to: firstly, establish the activities that teachers use to teach grammar; secondly, determine the effect of language games as an activity in teaching grammar on the learner’s performance; thirdly, explore the perceptions of teachers' and learners’ towards language games as an activity to enhance the learning of grammar. Simple random method and Purposive were used to select the four schools as well as instructors used in the study. The study adopted an experimental research design. An observation schedule with a checklist for examining English teachers’ guides and the language activitics therein, focus group discussions with pupils and a questionnaire administered to teachers provided data which was analyzed qualitatively. Data was also obtained through the pre- and post-tests administered to pupils. Tests on the simple past and simple present tense were administered to them. Data from tests was analysed quantitatively through the Python programme. The programme generated a t-value using the t-test formula. The study was informed by the Communicative Approach to Language Teaching and Vygotsky's Socio-Cultural Theory. Both theories advocate interaction in the course of learning. The following were the main findings of the study: Teachers teaching English grammar used several activities. Discussions and question and answer were the most used activities in teaching grammar, role plays, stories and language games were rarely given attention-with language games coming last. This study also found out that teachers and learners regarded games highly. They found them effective in teaching as they increased Icarner participation in the lesson, facilitated recall, provided immediate feedback to both the teacher and learner, fostered teamwork and collaboration among learners and brought fun in the lesson. From the findings, there was a significant difference between groups that used games and the control group. The experimental group did better than the control group. The study made a few rccommendations in regard to the findings and conclusions: teachers need to employ several language activities key among them games in their teaching in order to enhance learners’ linguistic and communicative competence in grammar, The study also recommended that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development incorporates language games in the language curriculum.Item Ecofeminist Aesthetics in Austin Bukenya’s A Hole in the Sky and Okiya Omtatah’s Voice of the People(Kenyatta University, 2024-08) Kiplangat, EdwinThis study engaged in an ecofeminist reading of Austin Bukenya’s A Hole in the Sky and Okiya Omtatah’s Voice of the People. The study examined the link between women and nature as depicted in the selected plays. It investigated how the playwrights employed characterisation to illuminate acts of capitalist destruction of the environment. Finally, it examined how the playwrights have deliberately employed dramatic structure and dramatic action to demonstrate patriarchal exploitation of women and its implications on the environment. Grounded on the argument that women and nature are interrelated, the study analysed the perceived link from a literary perspective. Moreover, the study stems from the need to address issues of environmental destruction and the exploitation of women. The study adopted ecofeminist theory, specifically, theoretical tenets on the nature-women confluence and the relationship between capitalism, patriarchy and the exploitation of nature and women. Using these theoretical arguments, the study delved into a critical analysis and interpretation of the selected literary texts in a bid to arrive at an understanding of the depiction of aspects of ecofeminist aesthetics in the texts. The study engaged qualitative research methodology and the plays were purposively sampled in line with the stated objectives. Primary data was gathered from a close reading of the plays under study. Secondary data was obtained from a thorough selection, reading and critical analysis of relevant print and audio-visual scholarly materials. The study established that there is a correlation between women and nature in terms of their nurturing abilities, exploitation and liberation. Further, under various categories, characters articulate acts of environmental destruction. It also established that the plays’ structure and action reveal patriarchal exploitation which negatively impacts the environment. The study adds to the body of knowledge the scholarly representation of the interrelation between women and nature and the implication of patriarchal capitalism on the two in the drama genre, while also advocating for the emancipation of women and environmental conservation