Translation and interpretation of documents into Gikuyu: a case study of the draft constitution of Kenya - (2004)
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Date
2005-04
Authors
Kariuki, Samuel Ngugi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation was to establish the need for the translation of the Draft
Constitution of Kenya - 2004 into Gikiiyii, for Gikiiyfi speakers whose proficiency in
English and Kiswahili is low. The study was based on the premise that if the document
under study was meant for all Kenyans, then the document should be published and
preserved in languages that all Kenyans, including those who are not good at Kiswahili
and English, understand.
The study had four objectives. The first was to establish how the target population would
fare in comprehending the document under study first in the English language and then in
Gikiiyfi. The second was to investigate the major difficulties that the target group faced in
the comprehension of the Draft Constitution of Kenya - 2004 which is currently in
English and Kiswahili. The third was to test the extent to which men and women differ in
the comprehension of the said document in the two languages. The last was to suggest
strategies for translating the document into Gikiiyfi.
The data was collected from 40 standard eight graduates half of whom were young and
the other half elderly. These 40 informants were subjected to two questionnaires in form
of comprehension tests. One test was in English and the other was in Gikuyti. Open
interviews were also conducted on the same informants.
The data was presented and analysed quantitatively as well as qualitatively. It was
established that there was need for translating the Draft Constitution into Gikiiyti as the
target population had a better understanding of the sampled portions that were extracted
from the document and translated into Gikiiyfi.
We finally suggest strategies that can be employed by a translator when rendering the
document into Giktiyfl language.
Description
A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of master of arts in English and linguistics department of English and Linguistics Kenyatta University Nairobi. April 2005