Rhetorical Questions as an off-record Politeness Strategy in Language Use among the Bukusu

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.