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/lp/de-gruyter/the-covert-language-in-kenyan-hip-hop-lyrics-j1cNvU6ev7
- Publisher
- de Gruyter
- Copyright
- ©[2012] by De Gruyter Mouton Berlin
- ISSN
- 1898-4436
- eISSN
- 1898-4436
- DOI
- 10.1515/lpp-2012-0013
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
AbstractThis article discusses the covert language of Kenyan hip hop lyrics. It will show that it has two interacting factors for its covertness, one is the uniqueness of Sheng and the other is the lexical adjustment processes that involve the construction of ad hoc concepts based on the interrelation between the encoded concepts, contextual information and the pragmatic processes of narrowing and broadening. This article will also show that Kenyan hip hop lyrics are prone to misinterpretation as a result of the lexical manipulation processes and the figurative language used. It will also prove that the misunderstanding of Kenyan hip hop lyrics is triggered intentionally by the speakers� abilities and preferences to exploit covert language, which is intended to lock out outsiders and create a new identity for the Kenyan urban youth. Hidden in the figurative language is a demeaning understanding of women as sex objects.
Journal
Lodz Papers in Pragmatics – de Gruyter
Published: Nov 1, 2012
Keywords: covert language; Sheng; cognitive effects; processing effort; narrowing; broadening