DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2017.v05i08.005

Pages: 835-841

Abstract: Styles used in various genres have to be placed in context to relay the message effectively with language playing the key role. The research focused on investigating the effective use of metaphors in passing the message in Ekegusii proverbs. The research was based on the fact that even though other researchers have done a lot such as categorizing Ekegusii proverbs and studying their meaning; little has been done to show how effectively metaphors have been used to relay the message. This is despite the fact that the use of figures of speech is important in communicating meaning in Ekegusii proverbs. The study was informed by the stylistic criticism theory in which principles of stylistic criticism were used to identify the linguistic and metaphorical features of Ekegusii proverbs as well as the context in which they are used. The theory benefited the study in terms of its practical approaches, perspectives and analytical tools. The acquired data was analyzed and described qualitatively with the guidance of tenets of language and themes. In the analysis of data, the researcher identified metaphors and analyzed how effectively they relayed the message in relation to the context they were used. The beneficiaries of the study findings will be researchers in the field of oral literature by expanding their knowledge on the relationship between language and content depending on the context used. This study will inspire a further investigation on the role played by language in relaying message in various genres such as riddles in different communities.