Irony in Ateso proverbs

Abstract

This study focused on the portrayal of irony in Ateso proverbs. The study collected 50 Ateso proverbs and analysed how these ironical Ateso proverbs are relevant in the context of the Ateso community and the consequent type of irony embedded in them. Two methodologies were used to gather and make meaning out of the information that has been gathered that is: interviewing and textual analysis. These methods formed the backbone of the research study. This research study design was qualitative. Content analysis technique was used which included; identifying, classifying, describing and explaining the irony in the Ateso proverbs. The discussions were based on Grice’s Cooperative Principle Theory and Relevance Theory. The finding of this study showed that thirty three Ateso proverbs contained verbal irony while seventeen Ateso proverbs contained situational irony. Through this research, it has been discovered that the Ateso culture is rich in terms of proverbs and their meanings and contexts in which they apply. The Ateso proverbs serve several purposes including sounding warnings and improving how an individual is supposed to relate with the other members of society.