A Pragmatic Analysis of Ekegusii Riddles

Abstract

This research is based on a Pragmatic Analysis of Ekegusii riddles and opines that riddles lay an important role in educating not only children but also adults. Focusing on riddles from the Abagusii community and while contending that riddles fall into different categories among them literal and metaphorical riddles. Primary data for analysis was obtained from a book Chimbachero Chi’Abagusii from which fifty riddles were identified and analysed. Anchored in Relevance Theory as its theoretical framework, the paper explored classes into which Ekegusii riddles fall, it also examined the participants in the riddling process and the role of context and cultural information in interpreting Ekegusii riddles. Forty riddles were analysed under Relevance Theory while ten were used as examples. The findings were: first, Ekegusii riddles were identified selected and classified into literal riddles which are understood from the words constituted in them and their simplicity in linguistic and logic form, and metaphorical riddles which are interpreted and understood based on context and cultural knowledge. It also observed that both children and adults take part in the riddling process. Finally, it also found out that context and cultural knowledge play a major in interpreting and understanding Ekegusii riddles