A SOCIO-STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF EUPHEMISTIC EXPRESSIONS AND SYMBOLISM IN THE DIRGES OF THE PEOPLE OF LUAPULA PROVINCE

Eunice Mukonde; Prisca Chikuta; Bwalya Lombe Musonda

Eunice Mukonde University of Zambia
Prisca Chikuta University of Zambia
Bwalya Lombe Musonda University of Zambia

Keywords: Dirges, Dance, Culture, Socio-Stylistics, Euphemism, Symbolism, Orality

Abstract

Among the people of Luapula Province (North-eastern Zambia) the life of a deceased relative is eulogised and celebrated through song and dance. These songs are dirges. Dirges are not only lyrical but also poetic in form. They are woven from the ethnic group’s life experiences on various subjects and themes demonstrating the creative and manipulative nature of language. Of importance, is the ability of dirges to serve as a medium for performers to prove that orality is a system through which culture can be transmitted. Dirges are composed and performed orally at funerals. This article focused on exploring the perception of death among the people of Luapula Province through dirges, also known as icimbo camalilo, which are big songs performed at funerals. A socio-stylistic approach was used to analyse the euphemistic expressions and symbolism utilised in dirges to honour the deceased. The findings suggest that the dirges sung in Luapula Province are characterised by the deployment of euphemisms and symbols that are reflective of the region’s way of life. The stylistic qualities in these dirges are based on and drawn from the local context, expressing the anguish of loss, death, the grave, and the significance of the deceased.

Author Biographies

Eunice Mukonde, University of Zambia

Eunice Mukonde is a lecturer of linguistics, in the Department of Arts, Languages and Literary Studies at the University of Zambia. Her experience in research includes work in pragmatics, sociolinguistics and language acquisition. Her recent publications include: English versus Zambian Languages: Exploring some Similarities and Differences with their Implication on the Teaching of Literacy and Language in Primary Schools and BIG-C: A Multimodal Multi-Purpose Dataset for Bemba.

Prisca Chikuta, University of Zambia

Prisca Chikuta is a linguist and serving as a lecturer in the Department of Arts, Languages, and Literary Studies at the University of Zambia. Her latest scholarly endeavour co-authored with Simungala, G., and Jimaima, H., delves into the realm of Indigenous Languages in an Online Space. The research specifically explores the utilisation of translanguaging techniques to enhance the visibility of multilingualism and multisemiotic modes.

Bwalya Lombe Musonda, University of Zambia

Bwalya Lombe Musonda is a lecturer in the Department of Arts, Languages and Literary Studies at the University of Zambia. He teaches Literary Theory, African Thought and Literature in English and Zambian Languages. His research interests are in literary theory, Zambian languages and culture, mythology and spirituality. His most recent publication which was co-authored with Mukonde et al., is titled English and Zambian Languages: English versus Zambian Languages: Exploring some Similarities and Differences with their Implication on the Teaching of Literacy and Language in Primary Schools.