The uses of Irony in selected Sabiny Fables

Abstract

This research project set out to analyze the Uses of Irony in Selected Sabiny fables. The research carried out comprises six fables that were collected from Sebei and they were initially in Kupsabiny, and later translated to English. The problem investigated was that the fables are rich in information yet most people have ignored it and focused on other oral literature genres and other figurative language ignoring irony. The study was guided by three objectives; To critically explore the importance of irony in Sabiny fables, to assess the contribution of irony to making the fables more entertaining and lastly to examine how irony is deployed by oral artists to develop the themes of Sabiny fables. Three questions were set out to meet the objectives above and they are as follows; what is the contribution of irony in making the fables more entertaining, what message is being carried in fables and finally why is irony employed by oral artists to develop themes of Sabiny fables. It is qualitative in nature because it is concerned with developing explanations of social phenomena. This means that there has to be some observations on human nature so as to understand it in its given nature and state. Data were collected using the methods of interviews, focus group discussion, close reading and document review; and were analyzed using data analysis methods of sorting, translating, transcribing and interpreting. The study found out that research was carried out on people’s different points of view on several fables and it was discovered that the use of fables largely depends on individual attitude and the interest of a particular person towards fables. It is recommended that; oral literature be made available to the young by including in the O level curriculum and syllabus because fables are thematically and aesthetically rich and they can therefore contribute to moral regeneration as well as greater appreciation of the beauty of literature.