In the examples, I use five attitude markers which I perceive as models to introduce how indispensable attitude markers are in KîîTharaka utterances. The present dissertation reflects the perceived view of KîîTharaka speakers, namely, that stance markers are important carriers of speaker meanings in utterances (the 5 examples above try to illustrate this point).
Rationale Behind The Study
An additional reason for studying attitudinal characteristics in KîîTharaka is the fact that KîîTharaka has an oral but not a written tradition. In light of this statement, the current dissertation attempts to contribute to linguistic research on attitude markers in general, in addition to scientifically documenting KîîTharaka attitude markers.
Scope Of The Research
In the current chapter, I also introduced the theoretical framework for the study, which includes Pragmatic Markers and Propositional Meaning (Andersen 1997), Speech Act Theory (Austin 1962), Relevance Theory (Sperber & Wilson 1986, Wilson & Sperber 1995) and the Cooperative Principle ( Grice 1989). In addition, assuming that attitude markers clarify the speaker's point of view, I have indicated the main focus of the research ie.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Definitions Of Terms : Discourse Markers And Attitude Markers
Therefore, it is indispensable to clarify the difference between discourse markers and attitude markers. However, it is necessary to point out that we lack a precise definition of the term 'attitude markers'.
Theoretical Framework
- Relevance Theory
- The Cooperative Principle
Increase or 'reduce' the strength of the hearer's assumption(s): They reduce the hearer's mental processing effort when decoding the speaker's utterances. Describe the speaker's estimate of the relevance (i.e. the importance or importance) of the situation to him or herself.
Research Design And Data Collection
Second, this chapter has indicated that the theoretical framework of the current study consists of pragmatic markers and propositional meaning (Andersen 1997), relevance theory (Sperber & Wilson 1986, Wilson & Sperber 1995), and the cooperative principle (Grice 1989). I used a questionnaire because the research mainly focuses on views, opinions and/or perceptions of the respondents and such variables cannot be observed. So the researcher may not know who contributed what, and worse, some points that informants contribute may be lost altogether.
I conducted both the questionnaires and the interviews one-on-one with my informants, many of whom were illiterate and could not have completed the questionnaire themselves. In recognition of the above idea of variability, the present study therefore considers the divergence in KîîTharaka and aimed to provide a fair representation of its speakers. 9 Furthermore, point 5 of the Informed Consent Form obliges the researcher to treat the identity of informants confidentially.
The extracts are taken from the translated portion of the New Testament (I refer to chapter 5 below), which is currently the single most authentic text available in the KîîTharaka. Having had the privilege of being involved in the translation of the New Testament into KîîTharaka, I was challenged in the process of translating certain passages (listed here as samples) that exclude position markers.
Sampling
The motivation for including these sample texts is to highlight the phenomenon of stance markers in KîîTharaka and its implications for the translation of texts in KîîTharaka. Oso and Onen (2005) explain that purposive sampling technique involves the researcher's decision of who [or what] to include in the sample. Thus, the purposive sampling technique is applied only in the selection of typical and useful cases (Oso & Onen 2005: 35).
25 The purpose of the present study (I refer to 1.0 above) was to investigate the pragmatic functions of attitude markers in KîîTharaka and to reflect on their significance in the meaning of utterances. To identify linguistic expressions that serve as attitude markers in KîîTharaka and the second objective was: To investigate their nature. In pursuit of the above objectives, this first step of the data analysis was therefore aimed at obtaining a clearer picture of which linguistic expressions should be included in the class of KîîTharaka attitude markers.
In this step, the examples of attitude markers given in 1.0 above were evaluated to identify their exemplary pragmatic functions. Data were collected using a questionnaire, audio-recorded interviews on attitude markers in the KîîTharaka, and a study of selected texts in the KîîTharaka New Testament (I refer to 3.1 above).
The Set Of KîîTharaka Attitude Markers
The numbering of stance markers in the table below was intended only to serve the purpose of making a reference to each stance and/or its markers. 28 As is clear from the revealed set of stance markers in Table 1, above, the following four stance markers appear marked in KîîTharaka and are therefore not widely used: Inu/ina (degrading stance), koomie ( sadistic attitude), ui nanu (alert about the attitude towards danger) and nguia/ntujii (resolute attitude). Looking further at the data, it appears that the markers of residence at KîîTharaka can be grouped into three basic categories.
A further observation of the three groups above indicates that the majority of attitudinal characteristics in KîîTharaka belong to category one. In the third category of posture marks in KîîTharaka, one posture is conveyed through one posture mark. Of the three categories, a group of KîîTharaka posture markers, there are markers that are applied in more than one context, and in fact they are used to express more than one posture, unlike the rest in the other two categories.
In conclusion, the current section argues that the knowledge and use of attitude markers are evident among KîîTharaka speakers. As a result, the research has compiled the above list of KîîTharaka attitude markers that did not exist before.
Pragmatic Markers And Propositional Meaning
The third aim was: To pursue the question: What are the pragmatic functions of attitude markers in Kîîtharaka. And the fourth aim was: to address the assumption that each attitude marker has a pragmatic function by exploring and describing how listeners interpret KîîTharaka's attitude markers to constrain the meanings of what is said. In addition, I collected acceptability ratings from KîîTharaka speakers regarding the circumstances in which they find it acceptable to omit attitude markers.
The outcome shows attitude markers that form an obligatory part of well-formed KîîTharaka utterances. The outcome shows attitude markers in KîîTharaka that seem indispensable and those that seem indispensable. The data show that almost all the acquired attitude markers are integrated into speech for well-formed KîîTharaka utterances with the exceptions of impolite and a borrowed attitude marker.
Attitude markers perceived as rude and borrowed show an acceptable score of less than 50%. Supplementary data extracts below exemplify typical responses regarding the question of the canonical position of KîîTharaka attitude markers.
Atttitude Markers In View Of Relevance Theory
KîîTharaka attitude markers can be better seen in the light of the two super maxims, viz. This final chapter presents an interpretation of the data, which may have an impact on future research in the study of attitude markers. Consequently, the following questions are investigated: What role do attitude markers play in the written register of KîîTharaka.
In the previous chapters I have demonstrated the central role of attitudinal markers in KîîTharaka communication. I note that it is necessary for an interpreter and/or translator to include attitudinal markers in the above passage. Furthermore, this study suggests a review on the topic of the inclusion or exclusion of attitude markers in the written form of related African languages.
In addition, the data reveal that the appropriate use of attitude markers in the KîîTharaka utterance enables communication without ambiguity. However, attitude markers that seem unnecessary (impolite and borrowed) should not necessarily be considered in written texts.
Bibliography
Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication 48th, Phoenix, AZ), in Information Analysis (070) –Opinion Papers (120) –Speeches/Meeting Papers (150). 1985, Common Discourse Particles in English Conversation: Like, Well, Y'know. eds) 1986, Relevance: Communication and Cognition. ed) 2000, Metarepresentations: A Multidisciplinary Perspective: Vancouver Studies in Cognitive Science.
Consent Letter/Form in KîîTharaka
Consent Letter/Form in English
Ethical Clearance
Questionnaire and Interview Questions in KîîTharaka
Questionnaire, Interview Questions in English and Interview Schedule
Gicunci kia 1: BAARUA YA GUKUROMBA RUUTHA RWA GUKUURIA BIURIA Niu Stephen Kithinji Kindiki ingugucookeria nkaatho nuntu bwa gwitigiiria nkuuria biuria
KITHOOMO
MWOROOTO WA KITHOOMO
BURA MUURUA BIURIA AKWIRIGIIRWA AMENYA
MANTU MANGI
Onania nugwitigiiria kana utigwitigiiria na rwano rwa X tuthandukuni tutu turi bwa njara urio ya biuria)
Numenyithitue bwa kugana (na thimu kana na njira ingi) iguru ria kithoomo giki?
Muthoomi nakwete kanya gakumuuria biuria bira umba kwigua uri nabio?
Ibugwatanirite nwa urege gucookia kiuria weegua utikwenda gugicookia?
Ibugwatanirite nwa urekane na na gucookia biuria weegua utikwenda kuthi na mbere na kweyana macookio maaku na ura agukuuria biuria atibatiirue
Ibugwatanirite ati mantu mara monthe ukauga na njira ya kwandika maratatini
Nugwitigiiria kuurua biuria?
YES NO
Gicunci kia 2: BIURIA
- Uri (a) Muntu murume?
- Uri na ukuru bwa mianka igana?
- Urwa kuuma Tharaka ruteere ruriku?
- Kiri biuria bibi bingi biri aaga rungu onania icookio riaku na rwano rwa gutiika taru √
- Tathugaania uri na ubatu bwa kwenda muntu amenya bura bungwa buri nkoroni yaku na mathugaaniani maku. Kiri mantu mama maandikitwe aaga rungu ri, imigambo iriku ya
- Bukiaragia na muntu ri, tathuura kiri mantu mama mathatu mandikitwe aaga rungu bura ukwona buri bwega
- Tagweta wega kana uthuuku bwa gutumira wakira imwe ya njira inu iri ithatu?
Umuntu uzi ibisobanuro byizina rya buri muntu nururimi. Kiri mantu mama manandikte aaga rungu ri, amagambo ya KîîTharaka ashobora kuba atumira imibonano mpuzabitsina. Gutumira amagambo yumwanya wa KîîTharaka ira mwaria ntugutumire kuryamana na buriwese hamwe nabandi batagutumiye mumagambo ya engua.
Ubutumire buvugwa ni bumwe nubutatumiye amagambo yigihugu cya KîîTharaka ira mwaria ntashaka kuryamana na buri kamba rye na mathugaanian. Kana, araguhamagarira gukoresha amagambo akoreshwa mu gusobanura amagambo ya KîîTharaka n'amagambo yo mu gihugu cya mwaria ko adashaka kuryamana na buri jambo rye na mathugaaniani. KîîTharakani ri, iyi yari inzira yo kubona agirit yo kukuzanira amagambo yumwanya wa KîîTharaka ira mwaria amatuka kwona bura bungwa buri umwe muri koroni we na KîîTharaka ira mwaria nta kwona bura bungua ya koroni na mathugaaniani.
Nukuri ko hariho abantu bamwe bagerageza kumva amagambo ya KîîTharaka, kandi ntibashaka kuryamana na barumuna be na bashiki be. Guhekenya amenyo menshi ninzira nziza yo gushishikariza amenyo yawe gukira.
ETHICAL CLEARANCE APPLICATION FORM (SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES)
Inquiries
Ms Phumelele Ximba Tel: 260 3587
- PERSONAL DETAILS
- SUPERVISOR/ PROJECT LEADER DETAILS
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- Location of the study (where will the study be conducted)
- Objectives of and need for the study
- Questions to be answered in the research
- Research approach/ methods
- Proposed work plan
- INFORMED CONSENT FORM
- QUESTIONNAIRE
- Where do you live in Tharaka?
- Please tick appropriately (one tick against each statement) Strongly
- FORMALISATION OF THE APPLICATION
State the main objectives and theoretical approach of the research and briefly state why you think the study is necessary.). In order to answer this question, the researcher will conduct an analysis of the semantic/pragmatic meanings of the various attitude markers of KîîTharaka. Will any of the following instruments be used for data collection purposes: YES NO.
The identity and institutional affiliation of the researcher and supervisor/project manager and their contact details. At no time will the researcher have access to the names of the participants in the study. identity will not be revealed. Please complete the questionnaire by either ticking or writing in the boxes provided for each of the questions below.
In KîîTharaka, which of the following positions in your sentence would you consider appropriate to place the part of your sentence that conveys to your hearer(s) how you feel about the situation. Please consider the positioning of that part of the sentence that conveys to the hearers (attitude marker) how the writer feels about the situation.
