A semantic analysis of the prepositions used in Sheng using the image Schema theory: A concept in cognitive semantics

Abstract

This study was carried out to analyse the meanings of the prepositions used in Sheng. To do this effectively, the image schema theory was used to analyze the meanings of twenty selected prepositions used in Sheng. It had three objectives. The first objective was to identify the various meanings of the prepositions used in Sheng. The second objective was to find out if the prepositions used in Sheng have the same meanings they have in either English or Kiswahili. The final objective was to investigate if the prepositions used in Sheng are polysemous. Prepositions used in Sheng were identified through questionnaires, listening to Ghetto Radio, conversation and translating paragraphs written in Kiswahili and English into Sheng. After analyzing the meaning of these prepositions as used in English, Kiswahili and Sheng, it was found that some prepositions used in Sheng have various meanings. Out of the twenty prepositions selected for this study, one had six meanings, one had three, five had two meanings each, and thirteen had one meaning each. It was also found out that these prepositions have the same meanings they have either in English or Kiswahili. All the twenty prepositions selected for this study transferred their meanings from either English or Kiswahili to Sheng. The study found out that some prepositions are polysemous. Out of the twenty prepositions, three had different but closely related meanings each.