Graveyard as Linguistic Landscape: A Comparative Analysis of Military and Church Metaphors in Kenya
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Date
2024-05
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Death, a universal constant, remains a topic shrouded in silence across cultures. Despite its centrality to human existence, discussions on death are often relegated to the margins. This study delves into the metaphorical language used to represent death within the seemingly disparate realms of the military and the church in Kenya. By analyzing epitaphs from selected cemeteries, this research explores how these institutions, with their distinct ideologies, conceptualize death.Drawing on Lakoff and Johnson's Conceptual Metaphor Theory (1980), the study investigates how metaphorical framing in epitaphs shapes our understanding of death. Employing a mixed-methods approach with a descriptive survey design, the research analyzes 50 epitaphs – 25 each from the War Memorial Military cemetery Nakuru, Kenya and Saint Austin's Muthangari Catholic cemetery, Nairobi, Kenya. Headstones were chosen randomly.The research findings reveal distinct metaphorical patterns. Military epitaphs utilize path metaphors (e.g., "gone too soon"), abstraction metaphors (e.g., "fallen"), and objectification metaphors (e.g., "gone fishing"). In contrast, church epitaphs focus on path metaphors (e.g., "sunrise"), organism metaphors (e.g., "sleep"), and container metaphors (e.g., "home"). These findings suggest that the metaphors employed in the military highlight order and discipline, while the church emphasizes spirituality and the afterlife.This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how societal institutions shape our perception of death through metaphorical language. Future research can explore metaphors used in other domains, such as mosques, state funerals, and traditional burial ceremonies, offering a more comprehensive picture of death's metaphorical landscape across cultures.
Description
A Project Submitted to the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in English and Linguistics of Kenyatta University, May 2024.
Supervisor
Mwangi Gachara