Rhetorical questions as an off-record politeness strategy in language use among the Bukusu

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Published: Apr 7, 2021

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Eunice N. Neyole
Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology, Kenya
Frida A. Miruka
Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology, Kenya
Deborah N. Amukowa
Maseno University

Abstract

This paper sought to discuss rhetorical questions as an off- record politeness strategy with the aim of determining the context and reasons for their use in communication. It focused on language use amongst users of Bukusu language through a case study of Manguliechi’s oration. The study was guided by the Politeness theory of Brown and Levinson (1987). Purposive sampling was used to sample Manguliechi, whose language use formed the basis of this study. Data was collected by use of content analysis and discourse methods. Data analysis was done through the interpretive method and the results reported by description. The research outcomes are expected to play a vital role in highlighting and explaining the context and reasons for the use of rhetoric questions as an off-record strategy in language. The report will also contribute literature in critical discourse analysis of African languages.

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How to Cite
Neyole, E. N., Miruka, F. A., & Amukowa, D. N. (2021). Rhetorical questions as an off-record politeness strategy in language use among the Bukusu. Research Journal in Modern Languages and Literatures, 2(2), 70-77. https://royalliteglobal.com/languages-and-literatures/article/view/583
Issue
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2021)
Section
Articles
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Author Biographies

Eunice N. Neyole, Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology, Kenya

Eunice Nafula Neyole is a PhD Candidate in the Language and Literature Education Department of Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology in Kenya. She is currently writing her thesis. Her research interests are Discourse Analysis, Sociolinguistics and Semantics.

Frida A. Miruka, Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology, Kenya

Frida Miruka has a PhD in Kiswahili. She is a lecturer in the Language and Literature Education Department at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology based in Kenya. Her specialty is Kiswahili studies.

Deborah N. Amukowa, Maseno University

Deborah Nanyama Amukowa hold a PhD in Kiswahili. She is a lecturer at Maseno University, in the Department of Kiswahili and other African Languages. Her research interests are Gender issues in Language and Literature.

How to Cite

Neyole, E. N., Miruka, F. A., & Amukowa, D. N. (2021). Rhetorical questions as an off-record politeness strategy in language use among the Bukusu. Research Journal in Modern Languages and Literatures, 2(2), 70-77. https://royalliteglobal.com/languages-and-literatures/article/view/583

References

Brown, P & Levinson,S. (1987). Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Dzemal, S. (2016). Rhetorical Questions or Rhetorical Uses of Questions. Explorations in English Language and Linguistics. 4.2 (2016): 102-115, DOI: 10.1515/exell-2017-0009.

Frank, J. (1990). You call that a rhetorical question? Forms and functions of rhetorical questions in conversation. Journal of Pragmatics 14: 723-738.

Goody, E. (1978). Questions and Politeness: Strategies in Social Interraction. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Grice, H. P. (1989). Studies in the way of Words. Harvard: Harvard University Press

Nikitina, A. (2011). Successful Public Speaking. Retrieved from www.isbtweb.org

Yanti, R. (2017). An Analysis of Off Record Strategies reflecting Politeness Implicature in “Oprah Winfrey Show.” Jurnal Arbiter, Vol 4, No. 1.