Analysis of the interpretation of selected lexical items in Kenya constitution (2010) by Kipsigis speakers
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Date
2016-07
Authors
Chepkwony, Alfred Kipkoech
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
This study falls within the area of Analysis of Interpretation of Documents. The study is about
analysis of Kipsigis speaker's interpretation of selected lexical items and phrases in the Kenya
Constitution published in 2010. The main objectives of the study were to: i) identify and analyze
lexical items and phrases in the constitution that were wrongly interpreted in Kipsigis.
ii) describe the challenges faced in the interpretation of selected lexical items or phrases.
iii) assess whether the variables of gender and age influence the interpretation of selected
lexical items and phrases. The study focused mainly on the Chapter Eleven on 'Devolved
Government'. The motivation of this study is hinged on the fact that ideally, interpretation from
one language into another or other languages should be possible. Relevance Theory and
Interpretive Theory give the various maxims interpreters or translators should obey while
engaging in interpretation. Relevance theory explains aspects of inferences based on context and
other elements while Interpretive Theory emphasizes on the notion of resemblance, that is, the
meaning in one language is transferable to another language. The study employed qualitative
research techniques in analyzing and describing the data. This study used a group of twenty
respondents of class eight level of education purposely sampled in Kembu location of Bomet
County, which was the area of study. This study group was sampled bearing in mind the social
variables of gender and age. Another four specialized respondents were also interviewed in the
process. The study also utilized a combination of tape - recording, use of questionnaires and
interview schedules for data elicitation from the respondents and interviewees. The researcher
presents a detailed analysis of the data collected based on the stated objectives of the study. This
study has found out that some lexical items such as 'Devolution', 'Gender', 'Integrity' and
'Transition' among others in the constitution were wrongly interpreted in Kipsigis; language
differences, ambiguity, word borrowing, lack of equivalents and nativisation were some of the
challenges in interpretation of the lexical items in Kipsigis; that gender but not age had a
significant influence in the interpretation of the selected lexical items. In addition to other
recommendations, this study further proposes that analysis of interpretation of lexical items in
the constitution into other languages can also be studied. In this study the 'Interpretation' was
taken as synonymous with comprehension such that, correct interpretation meant that the studied
population comprehended the elicited lexical items better.
Description
A research dissertation submitted to the school of humanities and social sciences in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Arts of
Kenyatta University. July, 2016