PHONOLOGICAL VARIATION IN KΙ͂Ι͂KAMBA LIVESTOCK BARGAINING REGISTER

This study aimed at showing tendencies of phonological variation in Kῖῖkamba livestock bargaining register. The study applied variationist theory by Labov (1972). Accordingly, a mixed research design was adopted. The findings of the study showed that phonological variation exists within the Kῖῖkamba dialects and that such variations are geographically distributed. The results revealed variations that are regionally distributed. Thus, phonological variation in livestock bargaining register is a geographic dimension. The study revealed that phonological variation occurs in some words and that the words varied in sounds in three Kikamba dialects which are the Kĩmasakũ, Kĩkĩtui and Kĩkĩlũngũ dialects.