Expressing Entreaty. The Use of Kirundi Kinship Terms

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background Information

1.2. Statement of the Problem

1.3. Research Hypothesis

1.4. Aim of the Study

1.5. Motivation and Justification

1.6. Importance of the Study

1.7. Scope and Delimitation of the Study

1.8. Definition of Key Terms

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Kirundi Kinship Terminology

2.1.1. Definition

2.1.2. Criticism on the Existing Related Literature

2.1.3 Description of Kirundi Kinship Terminology

2.1.3.1. Mode of Use of Kirundi Kinship Terminology

2.1.3.2. Linguistic Structure of Kirundi Kinship Terminology

2.1.3.3. Mode of Application of Kirundi Kinship Terminology

2.1.4. Significance of Kirundi Kinship Terminology

2.1.5 Nomenclature of Kirundi Kinship Terminology

2.1.5.1 Consanguineal Kinship Terms

2.1.5.2 Affinal Kinship Terms

2.2. Pragmatics

2.2.1. Definition of Pragmatics

2.2.2. Pragmatic Meaning

2.2.3. Major Issues in Pragmatics

2.2.4. Levels of Pragmatics

2.3. Notion of Entreaty

2.3.1. Speech Behaviour

2.3.2. Request

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

3.1. Research area

3.2. Description of the Subjects

3.3. Sampling Techniques

3.4. Research Instruments

3.5. Research Procedures

CHAPTER 4: DATA INTERPRETATION, ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

4.1. Data Interpretation

4.1.1. Classification of Collected Kinship Terms

4.1.2. Contextualization

4.1.3. Perfomative Power of the Tokens

4.2. Data Analysis

4.2.1. Muvyêyi (Parent)

4.2.2. Dāwé (daddy, dad)

4.2.3. Māwé (mummy, mum)

4.2.4. Sogóku (Grandpa)

4.2.5. Nyogóku (grandma)

4.2.5. Muvûkanyi (Sibling)

4.2.7. Mwěnewâcu (my brother, sister)

4.2.8. Mushíkānje (my sister= man speaking)

4.2.9. Musâzānje (My brother= woman speaking)

4.2.10. Mwǎna (Child)

4.3. Findings

4.3.1. Power of Kinship Terms in Entreaty Act

4.3.2. Social Parameters of Entreaty

4.3.3 Anthropological Parameters of Entreaty

CHAPTER 5: GENERAL CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 General Conclusion

5.2. Recommendations

Research Objectives and Focus

This study aims to perform a pragmatic analysis of Kirundi kinship terminology to explore how native speakers utilize these terms to express entreaty in daily social interactions. The research seeks to understand the performative function of kinship terms beyond their basic genealogical meaning, specifically examining how they serve as politeness strategies to secure requests in various social contexts.

• Functional pragmatic analysis of Kirundi kinship terms.
• Application of speech act theory to identify locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary forces.
• Investigation of social and anthropological parameters influencing linguistic entreaty.
• Exploration of kinship terms as politeness strategies in interpersonal communication.
• Comparative analysis of term usage across different hierarchical generations and social categories.

Book Excerpt

Summary of Chapters

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the geographical and linguistic landscape of Burundi and outlines the research objective regarding the pragmatic use of kinship terms.

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter reviews academic works on kinship terminology, pragmatics, and speech act theory, establishing the theoretical framework for the study.

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY: This chapter describes the research area, subjects, and data collection instruments, including the usage of interviews and questionnaires.

CHAPTER 4: DATA INTERPRETATION, ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS: This chapter presents the analysis of collected kinship terms, their usage in entreaty, and their performance through speech act dimensions.

CHAPTER 5: GENERAL CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This chapter provides a final overview of the research findings and offers recommendations for future linguistic and educational applications.

Keywords

Kirundi, Kinship Terms, Pragmatics, Entreaty, Speech Act Theory, Politeness Strategies, Sociolinguistics, Burundi, Interpersonal Communication, Face-Enhancement, Illocutionary Force, Perlocutionary Effect, Social Hierarchy, Cultural Anthropology, Kinship System

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this research?

The study focuses on the pragmatic application of Kirundi kinship terms, specifically how they are utilized as polite and effective tools for making requests or expressing entreaty in daily conversation.

What are the central themes explored in the work?

The central themes include the performative power of language, the intersection of kinship and social hierarchy, and the use of linguistic etiquette to navigate interpersonal relationships in Burundian culture.

What is the core research question being investigated?

The research investigates whether Kirundi speakers actively use kinship terms as a strategic linguistic mechanism to enhance the likelihood of having their requests granted by addressees.

Which scientific methods were employed to gather data?

The author utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining structured questionnaires and personal interviews with 100 native speakers from four specific provinces to gather qualitative and quantitative data.

How is the kinship system structured in the book?

The book classifies Kirundi kinship into three primary groups: parents (ascending generation), fraternals (ego generation), and children (descending generation), while also distinguishing between consanguineal and affinal relationships.

What key terms define the scope of the study?

Key terms include "kinship terms," which refer to verbal elements expressing genealogical relationships, and "entreaty," defined as a serious and emotional request used to invoke empathy or generosity.

How do kinship terms function as politeness strategies?

Kinship terms act as redressive mechanisms that mitigate the potential face-threatening nature of a request, helping the speaker maintain social harmony and establish a common ground of familiarity.

How does age and sex influence the usage of these terms?

The findings indicate that these variables significantly affect term selection, with younger generations showing a higher tendency to integrate loanwords, while older speakers maintain traditional terminology based on status and gender.