The functionality of lexico-pragmatic strategies in selected Lubukusu secular music texts

Abstract

This paper focuses on the Lexico-Pragmatic Strategies employed in selected Lubukusu secular music texts and their functionality. The study was anchored on the Relevance Theory (RT). The study purposively sampled out twelve (12) secular music texts among the Bukusu in Bungoma County, Kenya. The music texts were sampled thematically based on the themes of politics (4), love (4) and social commentaries (4). Data was collected through content analysis of the downloaded music texts from YouTube, interview schedules and Focus Group Discussions (FDGs). Data was transcribed and translated into English for analysis. Data was presented thematically in accordance with the study objectives. The findings of the study revealed that Lubukusu secular music texts employ a number of lexico-pragmatic strategies. These include euphemisms, codeswitching, lexical borrowing, repetition, metaphorical extensions and irony. It is therefore recommended that further studies be carried out on figures of speech like proverbs in the framework of lexico-pragmatics as well as explore the same linguistic strategies using a different approach like lexico-semantics.