Graphonological Study of Gĩkũyũ: An Optimality Approach
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Date
2021
Authors
Kuria, Peter Mburu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
This is a graphonological study of the Gĩkũyũ graphemic structure. The study
sought to examine the extent to which the criteria for designing an orthography is
observed, account for the graphemic structure of Gĩkũyũ using the
Correspondence Theory, a sub-theory of Optimality Theory (OT), and evaluate
the consequences of underrepresentation and overrepresentation of the
orthography criteria on speakers and readers of Gĩkũyũ. Data was generated by
respondents drawn from the five dialects of Gĩkũyũ, namely Gĩcũgũ, Mathĩra,
Ndia, Northern Gĩkũyũ and Southern Gĩkũyũ. Each dialect produced six
respondents, three males and three females, thus, a total of thirty respondents.
They wrote translations of selected items from English to Gĩkũyũ to provide
graphemic data. They then read their translations thus providing phonemic data.
The phonemes and graphemes were pitted against the Principles of Orthography
that underlie each criterion used in designing an orthography. To account for the
graphemic structure, the data were analysed against OT constraints which were
derived from the aforementioned principles. The findings include: the
identification of hitherto unidentified vocalic concatenations; discovery of OT
constraints that had not been used before; and, the establishment of Gĩkũyũ
orthography as a deep orthography. The study recommends a phonetic study to
establish the vowel space of Gĩkũyũ vowels, a revision of the Gĩkũyũ graphemic
inventory so as to include the additional graphemes examined in this research,
and, lastly, similar studies on Kenyan Bantu languages with a view of
harmonizing their orthographies.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, of Kenyatta University, March, 2021
Keywords
Graphonological, Gĩkũyũ, Optimality Approach