A Study of Communicative Effectiveness in Giriama Wedding Songs

Abstract

This study focuses on the communicative effectiveness of Giriama wedding songs, how effective songs and the language used communicate in the discourse around wedding ceremonies. We provide at least ten Giriama wedding songs according to where, when and why they ate sang. We also determine the communicative effectiveness of the Giriama wedding songs through lexical adjustment processes and finally establish whether there is a relationship beween performance and the ceremonies in Giriama weddings. We have used the Lexical Pragmatics Theory as our tool for analysis. Under lexical pragmatics we have looked at the lexical adjustment processes which include lexical narrowing and lexical broadening. In lexical broadening we have looked at hyperboles and metaphors. We have mentioned the purpose of the songs, where they are sang and who sings them. The study deals with the ceremonies and functions related to the Giriama wedding from the time the groom proposes to the bride upto the final occasion of the wedding. We mention and explain the ceremonies and briefly mention the choice of words used in communication. The functions here include the man’s visit to the girl’s to propose to her, negotiation and dowry payment, the blessing ceremony and the wedding. In addition the study has looked at performance in the wedding songs. Under performance the study discussed movements, facial expressions, gestures, dancing, musical instruments and costumes. The paralinguistic features employed during the singing are looked at. The study notes that paralinguistic features enhance delivery of the message contained in the songs. The research was carried out through field work. The data was collected by conducting interviews which employed face to face conversations. Both the purposive and snowballing type of sampling the data were used. In conclusion, we give the summary of the thesis, the findings and the challenges encountered during the research