An analysis of the place and value of imagery in proverbial expressions: a study of selected Luo Proverbs

Abstract

Luo proverbs is one of the most valuable part of the Acholi culture in that they carry moral lessons, wisdom and also provide guidance to countless generations. One of the most important features of the Luo proverbs is the use of imagery to bring them out to the audience. Imagery is the use of language figuratively to create a picture in the mind of the audience. They are used to make the proverbs more memorable that is when a proverb employs imagery, it creates a picture in the reader’s mind that is hard to forget, this then makes the proverb easily memorable and applicable to the audience. invoke emotions in the audience hence making the audience have a personal connection with the proverbs. and to clearly bring out the meaning of the proverb for a better understanding, this is because they help in conveying complex messages in a simple way thus making these proverbs a powerful tool for teaching and sharing wisdom. Imagery is an essential part of the Luo proverbs without them proverbs would be less effective for teaching, sharing wisdom, and as well providing guidance to the younger generation. The common types of proverbs the tactile which appeals to the sense of touch, gustatory which appeals to the sense of taste, vision which appeals to the sense of sight, and auditory which appeals to the sense of hearing. All these different types of imagery used are valuable in passing the wisdom embedded in these proverbs from generation to generation because they are valuable in bringing out the meanings of the various proverbs as elaborated more in the content chapters of the research proposal.