Cultural echoes: linguistic insights into death and afterlife in the Swahili language

Abstract

This study explores the linguistic discourse of death and the afterlife among Swahili speakers. Using a cognitive linguistic lens, data were collected from eight funeral ceremonies and twelve YouTube videos to address two research questions: (1) What linguistic strategies do Swahili speakers employ when discussing death and the afterlife? and (2) What meanings are embedded in the Swahili language that reflect people’s conceptualisations of death and the afterlife? The results reveal that death constitutes a sensitive discourse within the Swahili community. Consequently, seven predominant linguistic strategies were identified: metaphoric expressions, euphemisms, personification, hyperbole, proverbs and sayings, idiomatic expressions, and the use of passive voice. Additionally, six key perceptions emerged, reflecting views of death as a journey, a transition to a divine realm, rest, separation, potential reunion, and a ruthless force. While influenced by Christian and Islamic beliefs, core theological concepts such as accountability and resurrection are not always prominently featured. Instead, the discourse emphasises a continuation of life in a heavenly domain after death, without rigid cosmological constraints. This research offers valuable insights for both academic and non-academic audiences. However, its limitations include the exclusion of interviews, which would provide the voices of speakers on the matter, and the reliance on only verbal data, thereby missing detailed meanings that would be conveyed by non-verbal cues and contextual nuances. The implications of the study, its limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords

• Swahili expressions
• death and afterlife
• linguistic strategies
• cultural frameworks
• cognitive linguistics
• Metaphysics