Jinsia na Kabila Katika Muundo ea Mazungumzo na Utendaji wa Unyenyekevu: Mfano wa Biashara ya Miraa Miongoni mwa Wasomali na Wameru Mtaani Eastleigh, Nairobi-Kenya

Abstract

Conversations surround our daily encounters and its the successful conversations that we undertake, that help us conquer the challenges that we face. However, for an interaction to be successful, co-operation while doing turns is needed amongst the participants. Interactants involved in a conversational exchange should try to maintain each other’s self-esteem by employing politeness strategies since social interactions are geared towards co-operation. Therefore, this study aimed at analysing the conversation structure among the selected negotiations between miraa buyers and sellers.The research was based on three objectives: firstly, identifying the conversation structure of miraa negotiations by traders, secondly, establishing the implication of gender and ethnicity of the traders on the conversation structure during the negotiations and thirdly, determining the implication of gender and ethnicity on the politeness strategies employed by traders during the conversational exchange. The study was guided by two theories: Conversation Analysis theory and Politeness Theory. Direct Observations, audio-recording and Focused Group Discussions were conducted to obtain data. Purposive sampling and Milroy’s Social Network Approach were used to identify the 48 participants from 8th, 10th and 12th streets in Eastleigh, Nairobi Kenya. The spoken samples of the conversations between the miraa buyers and sellers were later on trancribed in Kiswahili. Content analysis was done on the transcripts and tables showing the politeness strategies employed were derived. The study revealed that the traders used simple and complex turntaking structures, the repair process was either self or other-initiated. The females’ communication style shifted to the ‘rudeness standards’ set by the male while meekness was associated with buyers with ill-intentions. They employed different politeness strategies such as use of honorifics like boss, brother, Engineer to minimize imposition. Codeswitching was another politeness strategy that intercultural participants made use of especially whenever the seller or buyer was tempted to utter mean statements to the other conversant. The findings from this study will be important to scholars in applied linguistics and interactional sociolinguistics. The findings will have wider implications on important concepts like; gender, intercultural relations, power relations, and politenesss in intercultural communication. This study will also contribute positively to policies towards national integration whereby language can be used as a tool to break or maintain the existing social ties in intercultural interactions.

IKISIRI Mazungumzo huwawezesha wanadamu kupitisha hisia zao na kumudu mazingira yao. Umahiri wa kimawasaliano ni chombo muhimu katika kuwasaidia wanadamu kufanikisha maingiliano yao. Kujihusisha na kudumisha mahusiano yasiyo na migogoro huhusisha ushirikiano na utendaji wa unyenyekevu baina ya waingilianaji. Katika utafiti huu, mtafiti alichunguza muundo wa mazungumzo baina ya wauzaji na wanunuzi wa miraa pamoja na mikakati ya unyenyekevu waliyoitumia. Malengo matatu mahususi yaliyouongoza utafiti huu yalikuwa ni: ubainishaji muundo wa mazungumzo baina ya wanunuzi na wauzaji wa miraa, kisha kutathmini namna vigezo vya jinsia na kabila la washiriki vilivyoathiri muundo wa mazungumzo na kutathmini namna vigezo vya jinsia na kabila vilivyoathiri utendaji wa unyenyekevu katika maingiliano hayo ya biashara ya miraa. Utafiti huu uliongozwa na nadharia mbili; Uchanganuzi wa Uzungumzaji na Nadharia ya Unyenyekevu. Mbinu za ukusanyaji data zilikuwa utazamaji katika hali asilia madukani pa kuuzia miraa, kurekodi mazungumzo na mijadala katika vikundi viini. Data ilinukuliwa kwa Kiswahili na kufanyiwa uchanganuzi wa yaliyomo. Uteuzi wa sampuli ulifanywa kimakusudi na kwa kuzingatia Mtazamo wa Maingiliano ya Kijamii ili kubainisha washiriki 48. Data ilikusanywa katika barabara za 8, 10 na 12 mtaani Eastleigh katika jimbo la Nairobi, nchini Kenya. Data iliwasilishwa katika nukuu na majedwali ili kuonyesha umaratokezi wa mikakati mbalimbali ya unyenyekevu.Utafiti huu ulibainisha kuwa washiriki wa biashara ya miraa walizingatia misamiati mbalimbali ya kufungua, kujirekebisha, kukata kalima na kufunga maongezi yao. Muundo wa mazungumzo wa mzungumzaji-mmoja-kwa-wakati-mmoja haukuzingatiwa na kukawa na aina mbili za ubadilishaji zamu: sahili na changamano. Mikakati mbalimbali ya unyenyekevu ilitumiwa na wanunuzi na wauzaji kila walipozungumza. Kwa mfano: kuamkua kwa kuita mnunuzi boss, baba, brother, wariah, Engineer ili wasionekane kushinikiza wanunuzi wao, kubadili msimbo, matusi, kushukuru na kuagana. Utafiti huu umetoa maarifa na mchango katika masomo ya uchanganuzi wa usemi kwa kuzingatia mahusiano ya kijinsia, kikabila, kimamlaka na unyenyekevu. Matokeo haya yatawafaidi wachanganuzi wa muundo wa mazungumzo ikizingatiwa ufunguzi, ubadilishaji zamu na ufungaji katika miktadha anuwai ya kijamii. Waundaji sera nchini Kenya watafaidi pia, kwani lugha ikitumiwa vyema itawaunganisha wanajamii wa jamii mbalimbali.