Msamiati Mkopo Katika KiKipsigis: Uchanganuzi Wa Kimofofonemiki Na Kiisimujamii

Abstract

Every language is a system that is grammatically independent. nevertheless, when speakers of different languages are in contact, their languages influence each other grammatically in different ways such as borrowing. Based on this, the present research examined the rules governing adaptation of loanwords in Kipsigis from Kiswahili and English. In a bid to fulfill this objective, the research identified and classified loanwords into semantic fields and then compared the phonological systems of the three languages in order to ease the understanding of loanwords adaptation process. The research analyzed morphophonemic changes that loanwords undergo during adaptation and went ahead to determine their grammatical categories whereby the singular and plural morphs were identified. The research further determined the sociolinguistic motivations for borrowing. Purposive sampling was used to sample three Kalenjn radio stations for data collection, namely Chamgei FM, Kass FM and Kitwek FM and also from a selection of published Kalenjin texts. Descriptive data analysis was done critically based on CV phonology theory by Clements & Keyser. This theory is very important in describing language phonology since it is syllable based. In addition, Myers-Scotton’s theoretical claims on borrowing were crucial in determining motivations for borrowing. It has been established through this research that Kipsigis reduces long vowels in loanwords. English dipthongs are also simplified in order to be accepted in Kipsigis phonological system. The study noted that Kipsigis adopts new vowels by replacing them with native ones which are articulatorily closest to them. The research also found out that Kipsigis doesn’t allow phoneme sequence cluster in the onset of words. It therefore adapts such words through insertion of vowels in between the consonants. On noun classes, the research found out that loanwords containing /u/ or /i/ vowels take the morph /inik/ in plural while those with /a/, /ɔ/ or /e/ take /isiek/. Concerning motivations for borrowing, this thesis noted that Kipsigis has borrowed words to refer to new concepts. However, the analysis showed that some words are borrowed even when Kipsigis has its own ways of referring to some words i.e using explanations. Bilinguals of Kipsigis, English and Kiswahili prefer using these borrowed words.

================================================

Kila lugha ni mfumo huru unaojitosheleza kisarufi. Ingawa hivyo, wasemaji wa lugha tofauti wanapotagusana kimawasiliano, lugha zao huweza kuathiriana kisarufi, na athari mojawapo huwa ni ukopaji wa msamiati. Ni kutokana na hali hii ambapo utafiti huu ulichunguza kanuni zinazofuatwa katika uingizwaji wa msamiati mkopo wa Kiswahili na Kiingereza katika Kikipsigis. Ili kutimiza lengo hili, utafiti ulianza kwa kutambua na kuainisha msamiati mkopo katika nyanja za kisemantiki, na kisha kulinganisha mifumo ya kifonolojia ya lugha zote tatu ili kuweza kuelewa tukio la utohozi wa msamiati mkopo. Aidha, utafiti ulifafanua mabadiliko ya kimofofonemiki yanayotokea katika msamiati mkopo unapoingizwa katika mfumo wa Kikipsigis na kisha kubainisha kategoria za kisarufi ili kutambua mofu za umoja na wingi. Vilevile, sababu za ukopaji zilichunguzwa. Data ya utafiti iliteuliwa kimakusudi ambapo vituo vitatu vya redio vinavyotangaza kwa Kikalenjin vilitumika katika kukusanya data: Chamgei FM, Kass FM na Kitwek FM. Data vilevile ilikusanywa kutoka kwa vitabu vilivyochapishwa kwa Kikalenjin. Data ilichanganuliwa kimakinifu kwa kuzingatia uchanganuzi wa kimaelezo ukiongozwa na nadharia ya fonolojia zalishi ya Clements na Keyser. Nadharia hii ni muhimu katika kufafanua fonolojia ya lugha kwa kuwa inajikita katika muundo wa silabi. Vilevile mawazo ya Myers-Scotton kuhusu ukopaji yaliongoza utafiti ili kubainisha vichocheo vya ukopaji. Utafiti ulitambua kuwa Kikipsigis hufupisha irabu ndefu katika msamiati mkopo. Vilevile, irabu unganifu husahilishwa ili zikubalike katika Kikipsigis. Kimsingi tulitambua kuwa Kikipsigis hutohoa irabu geni kwa kutumia irabu asili zinazokaribiana kimatamshi. Ilibainika pia kwamba Kikipsigis hakiruhusu mfuatano wa konsonanti mwanzoni mwa neno. Kwa hivyo, Kikipsigis hutohoa msamiati wa aina hii kwa kuchopeka irabu. Kuhusu ngeli za nomino, ilibainika kuwa iwapo mzizi wa msamiati mkopo una irabu /u/ au /i/ mzizi huo huchukua mofu /inik/ katika wingi ilhali msamiati ulio na irabu /a/, /ɔ/ au /e/ huchukua mofu /isiek/ katika wingi. Katika kuchunguza vichocheo vya ukopaji, tasnifu ilibainisha kwamba Kikipsigis hukopa msamiati ili kurejelea dhana ngeni isiyokuwepo katika utamaduni wake. Hata hivyo, uchanganuzi ulionyesha kuwa Kikipsigis wakati mwingine hukopa msamiati hata kama kina njia ya kurejelea dhana fulani kwa mfano matumizi ya maelezo kurejelea dhana husika. Msamiati mkopo wa aina hii hupendelewa na wanaujozi lugha wa Kikipsigis, Kiswahili na Kiingereza.