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Thesis A pragmatic analysis of figurative language used in HIV/AIDS discourse in Kenia: a case study of english and Kiswahili messages MAGONYA, Lilian Abstract This research investigates whether Kenyans from 42 mutually intelligible communities homogeneously comprehend AIDS posters. In this regard, the five research objectives are: (1) to investigate whether Kenyan AIDS posters are skewed towards implicitness or explicitness, (2) to access to what extent do addressees comprehend AIDS posters, (3) to carry out an in-depth lexico-pragmatic analysis of processes involved in the Kenyan AIDS discourse, (4) to study the various conceptualizations of AIDS in figurative discourse and analyze Kenyan mental representations of AIDS in various communities, (5) to examine ethno-cultural stereotypes inhibiting the implementation of AIDS posters. To achieve this, the study's conceptual framework comprises the Relevance Theory, the Conceptual Blending Theory and the Idealized Cognitive Model Theory. Further, in the analysis of 61 questionnaires distributed to Maseno Division and Eldoret Town respondents in Kenya, and also 21 AIDS posters drawn from various Kenyan NGOs websites engaged in AIDS campaigns, qualitative and quantitative techniques are used. Reference MAGONYA, Lilian. A pragmatic analysis of figurative language used in HIV/AIDS discourse in Kenia: a case study of english and Kiswahili messages. Thèse de doctorat : Univ. Genève, 2012, no. L. 742 URN : urn:nbn:ch:unige-194526 DOI : 10.13097/archive-ouverte/unige:19452 Available at: http://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:19452 Disclaimer: layout of this document may differ from the published version. 1 / 1 A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN HIV/AIDS DISCOURSE IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF ENGLISH AND KISWAHILI MESSAGES BY MAGONYA ACHIENG' LILLIAN UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA FACULTY OF ARTS LINGUISTICS DEPARTMENT Members of the Jury: Professor Patricia Lombardo (University of Geneva)-Chairperson of the board of Examiners Professor Jacques Moeschler (University of Geneva)- Supervisor Professor Tijana Asĭc (University of Kragujevac)- Examiner Professor Rafael Nunez (University of California, San Diego)- Examiner Professor Steve Oswald (Vrije University)- Examiner 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work is a product of extensive discussions with people of good will and intellectual integrity. First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my supervisor Professor Jacques Moeschler for having accepted to supervise this scholarly work right from its humble beginnings as a DEA (Mphil) thesis to the production of a PhD dissertation. My heartfelt gratitude still goes to my supervisor for going an extra mile to obtain for me faculty grants to attend conferences, as well as sustain my stay in Geneva as a doctoral student. In the same vein, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Swiss Federal Commission for Foreign Students in collaboration with the Swiss Embassy in Kenya, for having awarded me a Swiss government scholarship to pursue a DEA at University of Geneva, and for partially funding the first year of my PhD and equally for sponsoring all academic trips to Kenya from Geneva for a period of three years. On the same note, I am equally indebted to the Swiss Commission for Research and Partnerships with Developing countries for having granted me the Jeunes Chercheurs grant to undertake my field research in Kenya. I am also thankful to Maseno University for having granted me a study leave to pursue both a DEA (Mphil) and a PhD at University of Geneva. In numerous ways, my heartfelt gratitude extends to my family and siblings, more particularly my parents, Mr and Mrs. Bernard Nyangongo for being a pillar of strength. Thank you mum and dad for having confidence in me, and by making this academic journey bearable by your consistent prayers, encouragement, financial assistance and telephone calls, especially in my lowest moments. In a special way, I will also not forget to thank the following friends in Europe and colleagues at Maseno University: Ms. Christine Simuyu, Dr. Veronique Thouvenot, Ms. Janvier Ooko, Ms Sofia Njeru, Professor Peter Matu, Dr Pamela Oloo, Dr. Martine Makanga of Bruxelles University, Ms. Pamela Abuya, Ms. Clarice Ojwang', Ms. Susan Keino, John Karuri, Mussa Lulandala, Ms. Jackline Kendagor, Ms. Antonina Okuta, Ms. Jessica Omundo, Ms. Margaret Nyarango, Ms. Nancy Magonya, Ms. Flavia Mwagovyia, Ms. Chibole Wakoli, Ms. Isabelle Kamata, Victor, Giselle of Foyer International St. Justin, Dr. Pallavi Kishore, Mr and Mrs Huber Swinaski of Carouge in Geneva and the late Father Stambuli for his miraculous cenacle prayers. The list of friends is not exhaustive, and I am truly thankful to many other friends and doctoral students who morally encouraged me in one way or the other. Last but not least, I am very much thankful to the Almightly God for having guided me through this challenging 2 academic journey. 3 DEDICATION This work is dedicated to all people who have been gravely affected by HIV and AIDS. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page...............................................................................................................................................1 Acknowledgement................................................................................................................................ 2 Dedication............................................................................................................................................ 4 Table of contents.................................................................................................................................. 5 List of Appendicies................................................................................................................................10 List of Figures........................................................................................................................................11 List of Maps...........................................................................................................................................12 List of Tables.........................................................................................................................................13 List of Posters........................................................................................................................................14 List of Pie-charts....................................................................................................................................15 List of Graphs........................................................................................................................................16 List of Abbreviations.............................................................................................................................17 Abstract..................................................................................................................................................20 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY 1.0. Thesis outline..................................................................................................................................24 1.1. Statement of the problem................................................................................................................25 1.2. Objectives of the study...................................................................................................................27 1.3. Research hypotheses.......................................................................................................................28 1.4. Justification of the study.................................................................................................................29 1.5. Scope and limitation.......................................................................................................................31 1.6. Conceptual framework....................................................................................................................31 1.6.1. Overview of the conceptual framework section..........................................................................31 1.6.1.1. Blending Theory....................................................................................................................32 1.6.1.2. Blending Theory and mental spaces......................................................................................33 1.6.1.3. Topology of a blend...............................................................................................................33 1.6.1.4. Blending networks.................................................................................................................38 1.6.1.5. Blending theory and governing principles.............................................................................44 1.6.2. Idealized Cognitive Models.........................................................................................................47 5 1.6.2.1. Background on ICM..............................................................................................................47 1.6.2.2. Structure of cognitive models................................................................................................55 1.6.3. Relevance Theory........................................................................................................................56 1.6.3.1. Explicatures and implicatures................................................................................................59