An Analysis of Kikamba Riddles and How They Relate to Metaphor: a Relevance Theoretical Approach

Abstract

This study explored the analysis of Kamba riddles based on content and metaphor. The research further looked at the role Kamba culture plays in the interpretation of metaphors in Kamba riddles. The significant fact about riddles is that the linguistic contextual clues are not always sufficient to interpret all riddles hence the culture of the Kamba provides more context during metaphor comprehension. The interpretation of the metaphorical riddles was based on the Relevance Theory, as proposed by Sperber and Wilson (1986). The riddles have metaphors hidden in them. The riddles can either be transparent, semi-opaque or opaque. In the comprehension of transparent riddles, the respondent gets lots of clues from the constituent of the words in the riddle question which guide to find out the referent. These riddles have a very close meaning to that of the literal thus they are not difficult to comprehend. Secondly, there are semi-opaque riddles. In their interpretation, the respondent gets minimal clues from some words in the riddle question hence there is need to add more activation of context in order to interpret them. The cultural knowledge gives the context which guides the respondent to get a cultural list and a selection criterion. Lastly, there is the opaque riddle category. None of the encyclopaedic entries and assumptions are made accessible by the word or words in the riddle question either separately or in combination. One has to learn it by heart as a new concept or vocabulary and stick to the conventionalized riddle referents.