Mombasa Swahili Women's Wedding Songs
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MOMBASA SWAHILI WOMEN S WEDDING SONGS: A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS This thesis is submitted in fulfilment of the regulations for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D) of the University of Nairobi Submitted by: TIMAMMY: RAYYA UNIVERSITY OT NAIROBI DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS AND AFRICAN LANGUAGES 2002 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University. This thesis has been written under my supervision and presented with my approval as University Supervisor. Prof. MOHAMED HASSAN ABDULAZIZ DEDICATION 1 dedicate this thesis to all those who had faith in me and to those who referred to me as “Doctor” before my time, and in the process giving me the impetus and morale to complete this work. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Acknowledgements................................................................................................... (vi) Abstract ......................................................................................................... (viii) CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0 Background............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem....................................................................... 2 1.2 Aims and Objectives............................................................................... 3 1.3 Hypotheses.............................................................................................. 4 1.4 Rationale................................................................................................. 5 1.5 - Scope and Limitation........................................................................... 1.6 Conceptual Framework....................................................................... 8 1.6.1 Leech’s Levels of Analysis........................................ 8 1.6.1.1 The Graphological / Phonological Level.................. 10 1.6.1.2 The Syntactic Level..................................................... 10 1.6.1.2.1 The Lexicon................................................................ 10 1.6.1.2.2 Structure...................................................................... 11 1.6.1.3 The Semantic Level................................................... 12 1.6.2 Theory of Stylistic Criticism ................................... 13 1.6.3 Paralinguistic Approach........................................... 15 1.7 Literature Review................................................................................... 1' 1.7.1 Literature on the Conceptual Framework..................................... 13 1.7.2 Literature on Songs in General........................................................ 19 1.7.3 Literature on Swahili Poetry in General.............................. 21 1.7.4 Literature on Swahili Songs.................................................. 22 i 1.8 Methodology................................................................................... 25 1.8.0 Introduction............................................................... 25 1.8.1 Data Collection ........................................................ 26 1.8.2 Data Analysis............................................................. 28 1.9 Footnotes ...................................................................................... 31 CHAPTER TWO: A SW AHILI WEDDING 2.0 Introduction....................................................................................... 2.1 The Concept of Love and M arriage............................................... 2.2 Meaning of “Harusi” ....................................................................... 36 2.2.1 Circumcision / "Harusi"..................................................... 36 2.2.2 Ceremonies and Functions in a Swahili W edding......... 37 2.2.3 Marriageable Age and Duration of a W edding............ 37 2.2.4 Choice o f Spouse................................................................ 39 2.2.5 Engagement and Dowry.................................................... 43 2.3 Wedding Occasions..................................................................... 45 2.3.1 Offerings............................................................................ 45 2.3.2 "Kupeleka Begi" /Delivering the Dowry......................... 46 2.3.3 Preparations..................................................................... 48 2.3.4 The Ceremony of going o u t.................................................... 50 2.3.5 Placing the Great Drum ........................... ..................... 51 2.3.6 “Kesha” / “Chakacha" D ance...................................... 53 2.3.7 Nikah ya Siri / Secret Wedding Ceremony .......................... 54 2.3.8 "Ushinzi wa Kazi” / "Ushinzi Mdogo” Working Luncheon ... 55 2.3.9 "Nikah" / "Kupiga Kilemba" "Kupokea Bvvana Harusi"/ Receiving the Bridegroom................................................. 2.3.10 "Maji ya Khutuba" "Choo Kidogo" / "Vugo dogo" Ritual Bath ......................................................................... 65 2.3.11 "Kung'ara" / To Show Off ............................................... 66 2.3.12 "Ushinzi Mkubwa” / "Lima” / Luncheon.................................. 68 2.3.13 "Kupamba" / Public Display of the Bride..................................... 68 2.3.14 "Kuongoa" / Welcoming the B rid e................................................. 71 2.3.15 "Kutia choo kikubwa" / "vugo kubwa" / Ritual B irth.................... 71 2.3.16 "Kuosha moo" / The Function of Washing the bride groom's feet. 72 2.3.17 "Fungate" / Honeymoon.................................................................... 73 2.3.18 A Party........................................................................................... 73 2.4 Footnotes.................................................................................................... 74 CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS AT THE LEVEL OF PHONOLOGY 3.0 Introduction............................................................................................. 76 3.1 Dialects................................................................................................... 77 3.2 Language of the songs........................................................................... 84 3.3 Rhyme..................................................................................................... 85 3 .4 Metrical Pattern........................................................................................ 95 3 .5 Onomatopoeia.......................................................................................... 98 3 .6 Arabic Pronunciation............................................................................... 100 3 .7 Conclusion............................................................................................... 101 3.8 Footnotes........................................................................................................ 102 CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS AT THE LEXICAL AND SYNTACTIC LEVELS 4.0 Introduction................................................................................................. 103 4.1 The Lexical Level.................................................................................... 103 4.1.1 Archaisms.................................................................................... 104 4.1.2 Neologisms............................................................................... H I 4.1.3 English Words Appearing in the Swahili Wedding Songs....... 112 4.1.4 .Arabic W ords.......................................................................... 120 4.1.5 Code Switching....................................................................... 124 4.1.6 Repetition............................................................................... 126 iii 4.2 The Syntactic L evel.......................................................................... 133 4.2.1 Introduction............................................................................ 133 4.2.2 Questions................................................................................ 133 4.2.3 Parallelism................................................................................ 137 4.2.4 Sentence Length........................................................................ 145 4.2.5 Conclusion................................................................................ 145 4.3 Footnotes............................................................................................. 146 CHAPTER FIVE: ANALYSIS AT THE SEMANTIC LEVEL 5.0 Introduction......................................................................................... 147 5.1 Similes................................................................................................. 147 5.2 Metaphors......................................................................................... 150 5.3 Symbolism...................................................................................... 155 5.4 Personification.................................................................................... 165 5.5 Proverbs and Sayings........................................................................... 170 5.6 Irony..................................................................................................... 175 5.7 Vocabulary From Various Register U sages...................................... 176 5.8 Conclusion............................................................................................. 180 5.9 Footnotes............................................................................................