Department of Social sciences

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://localhost:4000/handle/20.500.12092/1784

Browse

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    A statistical analysis of gender and metaphorical conceptualization of Ekegusii pop songs.
    (2019) Ntabo, V.O.; Gathigia, M.G.; Nyarigoti, N. M.
    Gender is a vital determinant in the comprehension of pop songs. The composers of pop songs employ metaphors to express ideas through music. The goal of this paper, therefore, is to establish the association between gender and metaphorical conceptualization of Ekegusii pop songs. The study is anchored in the Conceptual Metaphor Theory and the principles of the generic Great Chain of Being Metaphor. The study adopted a mixed research method. Amasomo(Education) and Obwanchani(Love) Ekegusii pop songs by Embarambamba and Ontiri Bikundo respectively were purposively sampled for this study based on their richness in metaphoricity. An interview was conducted among the 36 participants of the study who were selected based on the dichotomy of gender.The study identified 54 metaphors using the criteria adapted from the Metaphor Identification Procedure Vrije Universiteit. Thedata was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences in which Chi-square at a significance level of 0.05 was employed to test the statistical relationship between gender and metaphorical conceptualization of Ekegusii pop songs. The study found that gender significantly influences the conceptualization of A HUMAN BEING IS A HUMAN BEING, A HUMAN BEING IS AN ANIMAL and A HUMAN BEING IS AN OBJECT conceptual domains. However, Chi square test analysis showed insignificant association between gender and the conceptual domain of A HUMAN BEING IS A PLANT.The paper concludes that males and females conceptualize metaphors differently. The study recommends that language researchers should employ the MetaphorIdentification Procedure Vrije Universiteitin metaphor studies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    GENDER DIMENSION OF DRYLAND FARMING AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY IN EMBU COUNTY, KENYA
    (University of Eldoret, 2019-10) MWENZWA, EZEKIEL MBITHA
    Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy, and hence its importance in enhancing foreign trade, food security, poverty alleviation, national development and revitalizing human welfare. Despite the importance of the sector, more than three-quarters (¾) of the country’s and area is dryland in the form of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), in which rain-fed agriculture is largely unviable livelihood option. In the drylands of Kenya therefore, livestock rearing and dryland farming are the most important livelihood options for resident communities given the climatic conditions. The adverse natural weather conditions are compounded by anthropogenic activities that degrade the environment, making local residents high disadvantaged in matters livelihood. As a result, food insecurity remains the greatest challenge in the ASALs of Kenya. While weather patterns are responsible for food insecurity, other factors come in to escalate want in these areas such as gender-based division of labor and cultural dictates that limit food production. This study investigated the gender dimension of dryland farming practices in the drylands of Embu County and the attendant implications on food production and security at the household level. It used both qualitative and quantitative methods of social investigation, while giving more emphasis on the former as data collection procedures. In addition, the study utilized both qualitative and quantitative data analysis procedures, while putting more emphasis on the former. It henceforth pointed at implications of gender-based division of labor in dryland farming on food production and security at the household level. Such findings have been generalized not only for the dryland areas exhibiting similar socio-economic and climatic conditions, but also on a national scale. From this study, it was determined that women faced several challenges in their food production efforts and these had more to do with culture than natural weather and and structural problems. In the same vein, they were arguably the hands-on food producers although returns to them were not in line with their efforts. On their part, men had several opportunities in food production, although they were not fully utilized. This has implications for below potential food production and possibility of household food insecurity. As a result, a gender inclined framework of the best practices was the outcome, which is expected to bring a positive difference in food production to assuage household food security. From the findings, policy recommendations were made regarding dryland farming to enhance household food security in semi-arid areas of Embu County and other areas with similar climatic, socio-cultural and economic conditions. It is the implementation of the recommendations which is expected to enhance dryland farming and agricultural productivity in order to alleviate food insecurity and stimulate community welfare as well as national development
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    The value of metaphors in Ken Walibora’s Kiswahili text: ‘Kidagaa Kimemwozea
    (European Journal of Applied Linguistics Studies, 2019) Ntabo, Victor Ondara
    The novelist Ken Walibora employs metaphors in his Kiswahili text Kidagaa Kimemwozea to discuss about the subject of neocolonialism in different perspectives. Due to the metaphoric language used, meaning might be elusive to the readers because metaphor is primarily a matter of thought and action which is normally situated in a specific context. This research, therefore, uses the Cognitive Linguistics framework to objectively reveal the meaning of the metaphors in the text. In the novel, the king (Mtemi Nasaha Bora) is expressed as irrational, dictatorial, oppressive and amorous. However, the protagonist (Amani) conspires with the king’s son to exploit the father’s weakness for the benefit of the common citizens. This study establishes the metaphors in the text using the Metaphor Identification Procedure Vrije Universiteit (MIPVU) and then classifies them into conceptual domains using the principle of Great Chain of Being Metaphor (GCBM). The conceptual mapping which is a tenet of the Conceptual Metaphor Theory is used to evaluate the identified metaphors. This study adopts a qualitative research approach. The paper reveals that animals, plants and objects are stratified source domains richly used to depict the characters in the novel. For a better appreciation of metaphors, the research recommends that it is salient to use the cognitive linguistics approach to understand contextual language against the cultural, historical and geographical backdrop. The paper concludes that metaphors are vital tools of communication and should be explained using the cognitive linguistics approach.
©Karatina University