Using Intertextuality to Advise Newlyweds in Haya Wedding Ceremonies in Tanzania

Abstract

The article analyses manifest intertextuality in parents’ wedding speeches delivered to advise Haya newlyweds in Kagera, Tanzania. It seeks to determine signals of intertextual elements that parents draw on in their speeches, the types of intertextuality in the speeches, and the type of intertextuality that is most predominant in the speeches. Through audio recording, the study collected nine parents’ wedding speeches. The data analysis is based on Fairclough’s (1992, 1993) forms of intertextuality signals and Devitt’s (1991) types of intertextuality. The findings indicate that Haya parents mostly use referential intertextuality rather than functional intertextuality and generic intertextuality. They also signalled their intertextual elements more via discourse representation in which biblical texts are more referenced through direct quotation with a reporting clause, direct quotation using a signal clause, indirect quotation using a reporting clause, and rewording. These methods are also used in referencing other texts.

Keywords: Haya community, Haya parents, intertextuality, wedding ceremonies, wedding speeches

DOI: 10.56279/jlle.v19i2.9