Mikakati ya Upole kwenye Hafla za Mazishi: Mifano Kutoka katika Baadhi ya Jamiilugha za Waluhya

Abstract

Swahili

Makala hii inachunguza mikakati ya upole inayotumika katika hafla za mazishi miongoni mwa baadhi ya jamiilugha za Waluhya na jinsi inavyochangia katika kukabiliana na matendo ya usemi yanayotishia nyuso za waombolezaji. Utafiti uliongozwa na Nadharia ya Upole ya Leech iliyoboreshwa na Alabdali. Ulitumia mkabala wa kithamano, ambapo data zilikusanywa kupitia uchunzaji shirikishi na mijadala ya makundi. Jumla ya washiriki 40 (wanawake 20 na wanaume 20) walishiriki katika mijadala ya makundi, huku mahatibu 48 (12 kutoka katika kila jamiilugha teule) wakifanyiwa uchunzaji walipokuwa wakihutubu katika hafla za mazishi. Data zilizokusanywa katika mfumo wa hotuba na rekodi za uchunzaji zilisimbwa, zikapangwa katika makundi ya kimaudhui na kuchanganuliwa kwa kuzingatia malengo ya utafiti pamoja na nadharia iliyoongoza utafiti. Matokeo yalionyesha kuwa mahatibu walitumia mikakati mbalimbali ya upole katika kutoa rambirambi, ikiwemo kanuni ya kumsifu msikilizaji, kanuni ya kujitweza, kanuni ya maafikiano, kanuni ya kutojisifu na kanuni ya huruma. Utafiti ulihitimisha kuwa matumizi ya mikakati ya upole huchangia kuendesha hafla za mazishi kwa amani na kudumisha mahusiano mema kati ya waombolezaji. Aidha, wanajamiilugha za Waluhya wanapaswa kuwa na umilisi wa kipragmatiki wa jamiilugha nyingine wanazotagusana nazo ili kuheshimu kanuni za upole. Makala inapendekeza kuwa tafiti zijazo zichunguze udhihirisho wa mikakati ya upole katika jamiilugha nyingine za Waluhya.

English

In burial ceremonies, social relationships are initiated, advanced or even broken depending on how language is used. Documented research in Linguistic Pragmatics emphasises the use of polite language in burial ceremonies to mitigate Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs) on mourners and the deceased. However, limited research has been conducted on how specific Luhya language communities embrace politeness strategies in burial ceremonies. This study sought to fill this gap by analysing politeness strategies used by speakers in burial ceremonies among Isukha, Maragoli, Bukusu and Tiriki. Guided by the Social Constructivist paradigm, this study adopted a qualitative research design to analyse different politeness strategies and their interpretations as speech acts committed on mourners who attend burial ceremonies of selected language communities. This study was anchored on  Politeness Theory by Leech and  Alabdali. Purposive Sampling Technique was employed in selecting a total of 40 informants (20 men, 20 women) who participated in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): 10 respondents (5 men, 5 women) in each burial ceremony. Forty-eight speakers (12 from each language community) were observed while they were giving their condolences in respective burial ceremonies. Data were collected using participant observation and FGD schedules. The data were analysed inductively using the thematic method of analysis, whereby significant statements were coded and arranged thematically based on research objectives and research theory. From the analysis, it emerged that speakers used politeness strategies like praising the interlocutors, acknowledging mourners’ social status and using phrases that showed sympathy among others. The study concluded that if respective Luhya language communities embraced polite language, burial ceremonies would be conducted peacefully. The study recommends that respective Luhya language communities should acquire polite language competence in order to promote comity. This study is significant because it has generated new knowledge about how politeness strategies are used in cross-cultural communication in burial ceremonies in selected Luhya language communities.

Keywords: Burial ceremonies, Luhya language communities, politeness strategies, speakers