A Pragmatic Analysis of Patriarchy and Dholuo Proverbs: the Use of Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Dominance Theory.

Abstract

This research study attempts a pragmatic analysis of patriarchy and Dholuo proverbs using conceptual metaphor theory which analyses the understanding of these proverbs in terms of source and target domains. Dominance Theory also plays a vital role in showing how patriarchy manifests in the proverbs. The study seeks to look at how patriarchy is manifested in Dholuo proverbs, the motifs of masculinity and femininity in Dholuo proverbs and how Dholuo proverbs help promote patriarchy in Luo society. Using the purposive sampling method, the proverbs were collected then classified into three categories namely social, economic and political aspects. They were later subjected to CMT which helped in their comprehension. The findings reveals that: Most Dholuo proverbs demean women while ennobling men; the motifs of femininity have derogatory connotations while masculinity are assigned elevating elements; the CMT accounts for the understanding of the proverbs while the Dominance Theory shows the gender imbalance and aspects of patriarchy in the proverbs; Dholuo proverbs continue to facilitate the entrenchment and propagation of gender imbalance in the society