A Semantic Analysis of Kimeru Kinship Terms

Abstract

This study seeks to analyze Kimeru kinship terminology with a view of investigating which kinship terms are used for describing the various kinship relations .The Meru culture plays a significant role in establishing which kinship terms are used for certain kinship relations. This study also looks at the various processes used in the formation of Kimeru kinship terms and seeks to establish whether a kinship term describing the same kinship relation takes different forms. The study uses Frame Semantics Theory as proposed by Charles Fillmore (1975, 1976a). A kinship term is analyzed as a frame or a conceptual background against which a word is defined. The project is presented in four chapters.Chapter two discusses kinship relation and kinship terminology in general. The chapter examines the two types of families, the kinship systems, the principles of classifying kinship terms and social meanings as brought out by kinship terms. Chapter three examines Kimeru kinship terms used for various kinship relations and the formation of these kinship terms. This chapter also provides an analysis of Kimeru kinship terms within the framework of Frame Semantics. Findings based on the objectives are also provided. Finally, chapter four gives a brief summary of the study