Pragmatics of Sense Relations: A Description of The Kigiryama System of Meaning.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue IV, April 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Pragmatics of Sense Relations: A Description of The Kigiryama System of Meaning.

Dr. Elizabeth Jumwa Munyaya
Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya

Language carries the culture of the people. Knowing the correct meaning of each word in every context enables one to be integrated successfully into that community something which contributes to harmony and understanding. Sense relations are concerned with meanings that words establish with each other in the vocabulary of a language. The meanings of words are frequently adjusted and fine-tuned in context, so that their contribution to the proposition expressed is different from their lexically encoded sense. This creates an occasion specific sense, based on interaction among concepts, contextual information and pragmatic principles. Though Kigiryama is not a minor language, there is hardly any information on sense relations and their pragmatics in this language. In this regard, this study aims to provide evidence of sense relations in Kigiryama. It also aims to identify the lexical pragmatic processes affecting the interpretation of sense relations in Kigiryama. This research was guided by the Lexical Pragmatics Approach proposed by Wilson and Sperber (2003). Data was collected through interviews, questionnaires and archival sources. The findings should be useful to university students and professionals in Linguistics especially those -interested in Bantu languages and Linguistics in general and will also add to the body of knowledge in linguistics in general and Kigiryama in particular.

Key Words: Sense relations, Concept encoded, Concept communicated, Lexical pragmatic processes, Lexical narrowing, Lexical broadening

I. INTRODUCTION

Background to the Language and its speakers

Kigryama is a Bantu language which belongs to the Niger Congo language group and a member of the Mijikenda sub- family. According to Guthrie (1948) , Kigryama has been classified in zone E group in the world Language classification. In addition, is spoken by the nine closely related sub-ethnic groups that make up the wider umbrella that is the Mijikenda community (Mcintosh,, 2004). The rest of ethnic groups are Chonyi, Ribe, Rabai, Kambe, Jibana, Kauma, Duruma and Digo. The language is mainly spoken in Kilifi, Malindi, Kaloleni, Mariakani, Magarini, Ganze and Bamba areas of the Kilifi County in Coast region of Kenya.
According to the 2009 Kenya Population Census report the Mijikenda comprise of 1.96 million of the Kenyan population of which about 751,531 are Giryamas, they are therefore the largest group among the nine Mijikenda sub-tribes. Although in Kenya the Mijikenda occupy the coastal strip from Lamu in the north to the Kenya/Tanzania border in the south, approximately 30km inland, the Giryama speakers mainly

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