School of Science and Applied Technology

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Start date: 2014End date: 2019

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    Constraints Based Code-Switching During The English Language Lesson In A Multilingual Classroom In Kenyan Primary Schools: A Structural Perspective
    (Laikipia University, 2017-11) Ngugi, Beth Njeri
    This study is a descriptive survey of code-switching in selected lower primary classes in selected Kenyan schools. The study investigated code-switching in English lessons and its implications on second language proficiency in lower primary schools in Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to find out how languages are used in an English lesson in lower primary classrooms. It also sought to identify the syntactic elements of code-switching used by teachers and learners in lower primary school level during classroom discourse as well as to analyse the syntactic constraints resulting from grammatical rules of the two or more languages. Finally, the study sought to establish how code-switching could be used as an effective communication strategy in an ESL classroom. The study was guided by three theories: Lado’s Contrastive Analysis, Myers-Scotton’s Matrix Language Framework and Baker and Westrup’s Presentation, Practice and Production (PPP) Framework. Three (3) public primary schools in Kasarani Sub County in Nairobi County were used in the study where nine teachers were interviewed. The data were mainly collected through audio-video recording and supplemented by interviews and observation. A discourse and grammatical analysis of data was done then presented. The data were presented in forms of tables, excerpts from text books and texts from the recorded data. The findings revealed that teachers switched from English into other languages during the English lesson. Code-switching enhanced language development as observed in learners’ performance on learning activities during vocabulary lessons. Strict adherence to ML frame enhanced L2 development. The study recommends use of code-switching rules during target language lessons but with caution. Support of local languages development and a structural analysis of their grammar are necessary for their effective use in teaching a target language. The study has implications for teacher educators and Applied Linguistics theory development.
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    Discursive Construction of Self-Identity Among Internally Displaced Persons In Kenya’s 2007/2008 Post Election Violence
    (Laikipia University, 2015-10) Ndiritu,Ng’arua Nelson.
    This study investigated the self-identity of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) following Kenya’s 2007 election-related violence. The study looked at how the attacks the IDPs suffered and life under displacement impacted on their self-identity in their cultural context and as nationals of Kenya and the discursive strategies they employed in the construction of these identities. The study was guided by Critical Discourse Analysis and Discourse Historical Approach which were complemented by Michael Foucault’s theory of knowledge and power as well as Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus, symbolic power and symbolic violence which provided insight in understanding the IDPs’ identity. The research data was collected using interviews with open-ended questions from a sample of twenty-four respondents selected from 350,000 IDPs, through stratified sampling. The data was complemented by a review of six newspaper reports and opinions on the displaced persons and four memos and press statements from the IDPs. The research sample was selected from IDPs from different ethnic communities to capture a wide diversity of experiences. The findings revealed that IDPs have suffered an identity crisis in their cultural identity and gender roles feeling that they did not measure up to the expectations of their communities as a result of the displacement. They had also largely lost their national identity as Kenyans due to unmet expectations from the government and the community. The study found that the displaced persons used ethnic and political party labels as well as their difficult economic situation to define themselves and distinguish themselves from the other Kenyans. They also employed various topoi. The study brought to light the role of discourse in creating groups and therefore unifying and dividing communities. The self-identities of the IDPs indicated a need for economic restitution and psychological interventions to enable the displaced persons get over their traumatic experiences. It also indicated areas where discourse could be employed to promote a positive image of the IDPs. The research which was situated in the area of applied linguistics also advanced the study of language in use.
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    Social Media Discourse: Linguistic Study of Facebook Among A Selected Group of Kenyan Internet Users
    (Laikipia University, 2016-10) Mwithi, Muthoni Florence
    With over 1.71 billion active users worldwide, Facebook (FB) has permeated the lives of millions of people and the way they relate to one another and share information. This research recognizes the utility of FB as a novel tool to examine and interpret linguistic features for a selected group of Kenyan FB users. The study also evaluated and interpreted how the participants presented their identities on FB and explored the motivations for their use of FB. The study uses Herring’s (2004) Computer Mediated Discourse Analysis (CMDA) theoretical framework. The research design used was both qualitative and quantitative. Purposive sampling procedure was used to arrive at eight FB friends in the 22-35 age bracket. This is the age that was found to use FB most in Kenya. The first data set for the study consisted of profile information and FB posts (written and visual) of the eight which was collected at two scheduled times in a day: three times a week for three months. This ensured that the corpus of interactions had varied themes and topics of discussion. The findings showed that the language used was mostly English as opposed to Kiswahili the National language. Other languages in use included vernacular and Sheng. While Kenyan FB users used conventional internet language including non-standard English, acronyms, emoticons, lengthening practice, code switching and capitalization, the linguistic features varied in form and frequency. The group chosen presented honest and positive identities of themselves on FB. The second data set was compiled from responses of an online questionnaire filled by the group. The analysis of the questionnaire found that the motivation for use of FB was occasioned by both technological and social factors. The motivations for use included among others: entertainment, viewing one’s and other peoples’ walls, posting photos, updating status, marketing, education and staying connected to friends. This research adds knowledge to the field of Applied Linguistics especially, Discourse Analysis as well as Sociolinguistics especially with regards to the methodology and tools of carrying out a Computer Mediated Communications study. It bridges a knowledge gap of the linguistic features common to FB users, what identities those users present and what really motivates them to use FB. For social scientists, it offers useful insights into the unique ways in which FB shapes identities and provides the social and interactive needs of the users. Finally, the findings of the study could be used for policy formulation on
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    Discursive Strategies in Kenya’s 2008 Post-Election Consultation Discourse
    (Laikipia University, 2014-09) Barasa, Nasambu Margaret
    This study addresses itself to the post-election consultation discourse of the two former Principals, the former President Mwai Kibaki and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the Kenyan Coalition Government between 2008 and 2012. The study is multi-disciplinary since it borrows from social theory, political science and linguistics. Preliminary investigation of the discursive relationship between the aforementioned principals reveals considerable intellectual interest in the complex linguistic strategies they use in their attempt to negotiate the issue of Portfolio Balance. This study focuses on how the discursive practices were employed to resolve the Portfolio stalemate and in the process define and construct the two principals in terms of their relationship, leadership, and ideological perspectives. The data for the study consisted of four texts purposively sampled from the instance of the Formation of the Grand Coalition Government. The texts were accessed through electronic data searches from the official websites of the former President and the former Prime Minister, and the same authenticated from the office of the Government Spokesman. The study was qualitative and data was analysed using the Critical Discourse Analysis theoretical framework with the major CDA theorists as Norman Fairclough and Reisigl and Wodak. The findings of the study revealed that both the principals used rational arguments justified through reference to the National Accord and the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. In addition, they used language which encoded political tolerance, optimism and reassurance for continued political support notwithstanding political competition. Consequently, the discursive strategies revealed that both the principals used mitigated language in their negotiation. In addition, there was no vilification of others to cause harm and this showed a complementary relationship. Further, the ideologies constructed the two principals each as negotiating for self and party respectively whereas there was non-representation of the Nation, that is, their discourse focused a lot on the issues of self and the party and not the Nation. The findings of the study would make a contribution to linguistics and political scientists in helping them understand the role of language as a possible means of solving coalition related conflicts and in turn demonstrate to them the powerful role language could play in party politics and coalition. Finally, the findings would inform policy studies such as those concerned with enactment of laws that provide the framework within which politicians and leaders use language, particularly, the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and various statutory provisions such as the Political Parties Act (2011).
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    An Analysis of Health Literacy Among Meru Women Attending Selected Maternal Child Health Clinics In Meru County, Kenya
    (Laikipia University, 2014-10) Kirigia, Eliud K.
    Upon her independence in 1963, Kenya set out to eradicate three endemic ills: poverty, disease and ignorance as stipulated in Sessional Paper No 10, of 1965. “Illiteracy” has largely been associated with these ills. Health illiterate individuals, in particular, are characterized by inability to obtain, understand and act on health information. Prior to this study the health literacy status of Meru women attending maternal child health clinics in Meru County was largely unknown. Previous reports had indicated cases of high infant mortality in some parts of Meru due to sickness, poor diet, poor hygiene, poor sanitation and malnutrition. Health illiteracy was thought to be an indirect cause of some of these conditions. A previous study in some part of Meru County claiming that Meru people often misunderstood disagreed with or forgot instructions given in health centres or clinics may have been biased and questionable but still required to be authenticated. It is on this premise that this study was carried out to examine health literacy status of a sample of ninety (90) Meru women attending maternal child health clinics in six selected health facilities in Meru County to determine how it possibly impacted on the quality of their health management. A descriptive research design which included both quantitative assessments of the women’s individual health literacy performances as well as the qualitative evidence of their literacy perceptions and practices was used. The following theoretical models: Integrated model of health literacy by Sorensen et. al. (2012), Education model by Joshi A.R.(1994) and Ideological model by Street, B (1984) were the basis upon which data was collected and analysed. The following instruments, which were the basis of the findings, were developed and used: a Pre-test Survey questionnaire (PSQ) instrument, a health literacy screening test (HLST) instrument and a health literacy test (HLT) instrument. The findings reveal an 11 percent difference between the respondent’s self-reported literacy (89%) as measured by PSQ and their actual literacy (78%) as measured by HLST. Results of the health literacy tests as measured by HLT indicated that the respondents had varying levels of health literacy inadequacy in English (87%), Kiswahili (83%) and Kimeru (73%) respectively. In terms of the perceived benefits of literacy most of the respondents mentioned benefits which ranged from a tool for gathering health knowledge to a safe-guard against cheating and manipulation. It is hoped that the results of this study will immensely benefit educationists and scholars in applied linguistics in the area of literacy acquisition, health personnel involved in public health and government policy makers on health promotion.
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    Discursive Construction of Masculine Identities In Newspapers Pullout Magazines In Kenya
    (Laikipia University, 2014-10) Ngumo, Mugambi Cyrus
    The study analyzed the discursive constructions of masculine identities in newspapers’ pullout magazines in Kenya. It examined if there was a disconnect between the way Kenya’s mainstream newspapers’ pullout magazines constructed masculinity and the way the readers of these magazines constructed it. The objectives of the study were: to identify and describe the types of masculine identities that are constructed by lifestyle magazines and determine how these magazines justify or legitimize their construction of these identities; to identify and describe the types of masculine identities constructed by readers of pullout magazines and the language they use to construct these identities; to investigate how readers conform to, negotiate or resist the masculine identities constructed by these magazines, and to find out why readers conform to, negotiate or resist these masculine identities as constructed by pullout magazines. The study adopted a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the social constructionist view of gender and the encoding decoding model as its theoretical framework. Purposive sampling was used since only information rich magazines were relevant. Data was collected from The Nation and The Standard newspapers’ pullout magazines published between February, 2012 and January, 2013. Two weekly pullout magazines were selected from each paper. The Saturday Magazine and Lifestyle were selected from The Nation while Woman Instinct and The Dude were selected from The Standard. Data was also collected from readers. Respondents read the magazines individually, and then held a discussion which was tape recorded in focus group discussions. These readers were drawn from male and female students at Kimathi University College and Kagumo Teachers’ College in Nyeri. The CDA method of analysis was used. To begin with, the analysis of the construction of masculine identities by the magazines not only revealed multiple identities but also contradictory ones at times. The same tendency was manifested by the readers’ construction of male identities. Significantly, the study found out that readers conform, negotiate or oppose pullout magazines’ construction of masculine identities. Additionally, both magazines and readers used different linguistic forms to justify their constructions of masculine identities. The analysis also found out that adopting any of the three positions was informed by different ideologies. The finding that masculine identities are multiple reinforces the argument that there is no normal or abnormal masculinity. Thus, Kenyan institutions such as the family, the school,