Must we complete the runs round the field? Sports related conceptual metaphors in Odongo Swagg’s song Linda nya Mbita

Authors

  • Cellyne Anudo Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, University of Kabianga, Kenya
  • Jack Ogembo Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, University of Kabianga, Kenya
  • Benard Kodak Department of Languages, Linguistics and Literature, Maasai Mara University, Kenya

Keywords:

language, metaphor, music, sex, sports

Abstract

This paper explores the sports related metaphors in Odongo Swagg’s popular song Linda Nya Mbita. Metaphors are all-pervasive and this is evidenced by the numerous cases of polysemy and idiomaticity in the lexicon; they have systematic mappings between two conceptual domains that is the source (also called concrete) onto the target domain (also referred to as the abstract); metaphors primarily occur in thought and they are grounded in similarity of varied kinds. The objective of this study was to examine the portrayal of sex as a sporting encounter among the Luo community in Kenya. Conceptual Metaphor Theory as espoused by Kövecses (2002) was used to critically examine the mechanisms of sexual activities. The artist exploits poetic licence in which sexual obscenities are tolerated in music where sexual taboos are lifted. Sports metaphors in the song under study borrow from the popular games of soccer and athletics, both of which require great physical and mental preparedness and the ability to endure the rigors of the sports. The correlation between sex and sports is seen in how explicit sexual manouvres are compared with the dexterity of an ace soccer player who runs rings round the opponents in the field. It is also seen in the the stamina of a great athlete who can complete up to  eight laps round the field without getting tired.

Author Biographies

  • Cellyne Anudo, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, University of Kabianga, Kenya

    Cellyne Anudo is a Lecturer of Linguistics at Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, University of Kabianga, Kenya. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (Kisii University). Dr. Anudo is actively engaged in Linguistics and Communication research, with over 8 years’ experience of university teaching. She is an expert in Language and Communication with specific bias in Language and Gender, Language and Culture, Cognitive Linguistics and Mass Communication. She is a Content Consultant for Oxford Primary for Eastern Africa and a Book Reviewer of creative works for Oxford University Press.

  • Jack Ogembo, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, University of Kabianga, Kenya

    Jack Ogembo is a Professor of Literature at the University of Kabianga, in Kericho, Kenya. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Literature (University of Cape Town). He has research leaning and interests in Linguistics and Literature, Literary Theory and Criticism, Semiotics, Cultural Studies and how technology affects them in Fiction. He has published a number of papers on these topics. He would like to pursue research on Post colonialism and Hybridity, Futurism and Science Fiction and how human migration impacts or transforms nationalism.         

  • Benard Kodak, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Literature, Maasai Mara University, Kenya

    Benard Kodak is an Associate Professor of Linguistics and The Dean, School of Arts, humanities, Social Sciences and Creative Industries, Maasai Mara University, Kenya. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Linguistics (Maseno University). He has over 13 years’ experience of university teaching and has held Senior Administrative and Management positions at the University level. His research interests include applied linguistics, multimodality and mass communication.

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Published

2022-11-17

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Must we complete the runs round the field? Sports related conceptual metaphors in Odongo Swagg’s song Linda nya Mbita . (2022). Journal of Migration, Culture and Society, 2(1). https://royalliteglobal.com/jmcs/article/view/945