Authors: Joseph Arthur Mbara (Rongo University, Kenya) and Boke Joyce Wambura (Tom Mboya University, Kenya)
Abstract: This paper examines Dholuo inanimate metonymies by establishing their functions based on the ‘what’ question, as the guiding principle. Kisumu South Nyanza dialect of Dholuo is used as the point of reference because it is considered a standard variety. The paper focuses on inanimate metonymies used for inanimate objects. It is anchored on the Causal Theory of Reference advanced by Kripke and the Refining Causal Theory of Reference for Natural Kind Terms advanced by Kitcher and Stanford. The study was conducted in Homa Bay, Kenya. It adopted a descriptive research design. The population constituted mourners in burial ceremonies, traders, sportsmen/women, musicians and travelers from which a sample of 25 respondents was selected purposively. Data was qualitative in nature and it comprised 15 actual metonymies. Data was analyzed using the discourse analytical approaches, where both linguistic and content elements were examined. Presentation of the findings was done using descriptions. The findings show that Dholuo metonymies are used for reference, humor, rhetorical and conventional functions. These findings will contribute to existing knowledge on functions of metonymy in natural languages and will be a source of reference to researchers in applied linguistics and general linguistics studies.