艺术与社会科学杂志

The Social Function of Swearing in a Miraa Market Environment

Abstract

Mukuni DM, Ireri AM, Nthiga PM and Owili FA

The study aimed at evaluating the social motivations behind the use of swearwords in the language of miraa traders. The study was carried out in K�?¡�?¿�?�??r�?¡�?¿�?�??tir�?¡�?¿�?�?? open-air miraa (khat) market in Mbeere South sub-county within Embu County. Twelve negotiations involving both male and female traders were recorded and subsequently analyzed. The analysis indicates that swearing is an intricate social practice that is highly gendered, and which is used to not only socialize but also to achieve highly precious transactional goals in the miraa market. Significantly, swearing is a way in which the Miraa traders establish both their social and linguistic identity.