The Sociolinguistic Implications of Inanimate Metonymies in Dholuo

Abstract

This study aims to explain the sociolinguistic implications of Dholuo inanimate metonymies based on ‘when’, ‘where’ and ‘why’ questions, as the guiding principle. The Kisumu-South Nyanza dialect of Dholuo is used in the investigation in this study because it is considered a standard variety. This study focuses on inanimate metonymies used as reference points for inanimate objects in Dholuo to explain their sociolinguistic implications, which would add value to the knowledge base. This study is anchored on the Causal Theory of Reference advanced by Kripke (1980), and The Refining Causal Theory of Reference for Natural Kind Terms advanced by Kitcher and Stanford (2000). This study adopts the descriptive research design. The study was conducted in Homa Bay County, where the researcher reached out to mourners, traders, sportsmen/women, musicians and travellers as the population of interest. A sample of 5 respondents from each of the five identified groups was selected using purposive sampling because of the observable recurrent use of metonymic expressions. This study, therefore, uses a total sample size of 25 respondents because a smaller group produces the mean it is supposed to represent (Fitz-Gibson and Morris, 1987:42). Further, samples bigger than 20 per cent suffer from “data saturation” (Robson, 1993:199). Data for this study were qualitative in nature and comprised actual metonymies collected using focus group discussions and interviews. Data was analysed using discourse analysis approaches, where both linguistic and content elements are examined. Presentation of the analysed data was descriptive. The findings of this study illustrate that inanimate metonymies communicate hidden, coded or culturally sensitive meanings and reflect obligations and protective mechanisms. This study, therefore, adds a knowledge base in metonymic expressions in the field of academia.