A cognitive linguistics analysis of gikuyu euphemisms
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Date
2010
Authors
Gathigia, Moses Gatambaki
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Abstract
Any natural language like Gikuyu is the result of human cognition whose structure
and function is based on people's experiences. Some experiences are too intimate
and dysphemistic to be discussed without linguistic interdiction. Cognitive
Linguistics is, therefore, an approach to language that is based on such experiences
of the world and the way we perceive and conceptualize them. It is from this
background that this study set out with three objectives: to identify the lexical and
semantic processes involved in the creation of euphemisms in G1kiiyii; to discuss
the influence of gender in the usage of euphemisms and to account for the
interpretation of euphemisms using the Conceptual MetaphorTheory (CMf).
To achieve the objectives of the study, this research used qualitative and
quantitative data research techniques. The research employed the services of two
research assistants who were members of the local community in collecting data.
The researcher purposively sampled 20 native G1kiiyii speakers for the study. 10 of
the respondents were males and the other 10 were females. An interview schedule
was used as the data collection instrument. The metaphors collected were mapped
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into different kinds of conceptual mappings and image - schemas and descriptive
analyses of the sub mappings or ontological correspondences between the source
and target domains discussed using the Cognitive Metaphor Theory. All
euphemisms identified, together with their lexical frequencies, were then assigned
to their corresponding linguistic level(s) according to their method of formation.
Pie charts, tables and statistical presentations (both descriptive and inferential)
were also given to display the percentage of metaphorical euphemistic substitutes
in each cognitive domain. The conceptual mappings were used to discuss the
influence of gender on the usage of euphemisms in Gikiiyii.
The findings of this study indicate that in spite of a few violations of the tenets of
Conceptual Metaphor Theory, CMT gives us insights into the cognitive
perspective of metaphorical euphemisms as a resource to attenuate the target
domains of death; sexual intercourse; diseases; excretion and body effluvia and
anatomy. We note that females generally use euphemisms more than males as
indicated by their higher lexical frequencies in the conceptualization of the target
domains. This study also identifies six dominant semantic processes namely:
metaphor, metonymy, circumlocution I periphrasis, hyperbole, particularization
and understatement I meiosis. The analysis of the lexical processes, on the other
hand, reveals five major lexical devices namely: borrowing, substitution, the use of
vague words and expressions, use of stories from religion and technicisms.
Description
Master of Arts, Department of English and Linguistics 203p. 2010