LEXICAL VARIATION IN LIVESTOCK BARGAINING REGISTER IN UKAMBANĨ

This study investigated lexical variation in livestock bargaining register in Ukambanĩ. Livestock register plays a central role in creating and sustaining the market society that encompasses social norms of Kamba people. Moreover, in Kenya, livestock production contributes about 3.3% of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite such significant contribution to the national economy, little attention has been paid on livestock register by linguists yet it constitutes of specific social and cultural activities. This study aimed at showing different lexical variation in livestock bargaining register. The study applied variationist theory by Labov (1972). Consequently, a mixed research design was adopted. The findings of the study revealed that nouns record higher variability than the verbs and adjectives in livestock register. The findings further showed that livestock bargaining register in Ukambani is caused by the individual speaker’s age and gender.