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This paper presents the results of a linguistic study in graffiti in Kenyan universities a case study of Rongo University College using Lexical Pragmatics framework. The main purpose of the study was to investigate and analyze the linguistic elements in graffiti in Kenyan Universities. "Graffiti" and its occasional singular form"graffito"are from the Italian word graffiato ("scratched"). "Graffiti" is applied in art history to works of art produced by scratching a design into a surface. A related term is "sgraffito" which involves scratching through one layer of pigment to reveal another beneath it. This technique was primarily used by potters who would glaze their wares and then scratch a design into it. Graffiti takes the form of written language whose authorship always remains anonymous. It precisely refers to any wall writing, pictures and symbols or markings of any kind on any surface anywhere no matter what motivates the writer. Most graffiti are viewed as illegal or vandalism of property by those in authority. The university students use graffiti as a form of communication. This study investigated, identified and described the types of graffiti used for communication by the students of Rongo University College and the linguistic features of the graffiti used. The data was collected from the walls of lecture rooms, washrooms, surfaces of doors, chairs among others. This data was analyzed qualitatively to arrive at inferences and conclusions.
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In-Text Citation: (Onyango, 2016)
To Cite this Article: Onyango, O. F. (2016). The Talking Walls of Rongo University College: A Linguistic Analysis of Graffiti Use at Rongo University College. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 5(1), 1–6.
Copyright: © 2016 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
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