Lugha, Mawasiliano na Mizozo: Mikakati ya Mawasiliano katika Kesi za Mizozo kwenye Mahakama ya Juu ya Mazingira na Ardhi ya Jiji la Kisumu

Abstract

SWAHILI

Makala hii inalenga kuchunguza mikakati ya mawasiliano inayotumika katika kesi za migogoro ya umiliki wa ardhi katika Mahakama ya Juu ya Mazingira na Ardhi ya Jiji la Kisumu. Utafiti uliongozwa na Nadharia ya Ujihusishaji iliyoasisiwa na Giles (1973) na kuendelezwa na Giles et al. (1991). Nadharia hii inaeleza kuwa washiriki katika mawasiliano hubadilisha matumizi yao ya lugha kulingana na muktadha, utambulisho na malengo ya mazungumzo. Data ilikusanywa nyanjani kwenye Mahakama ya Juu ya Mazingira na Ardhi ya Jiji la Kisumu. Kundi lengwa lilikuwa mawasiliano ya kesi sita ambazo zilikuwa zimeratibiwa kusikizwa katika mahakama hiyo mwezi wa Oktoba 2019. Usampulishaji wa dhamira ulitumiwa kuteua Mahakama ya Juu pamoja na kesi nne ambazo ziliendeshwa kwa lugha ya Kiswahili. Mbinu ya uchunguzi usio wa kushiriki ulitumika kukusanya data. Baada ya data kukusanywa, ilipangwa na kuchanganuliwa kupitia mbinu ya uhakiki wa yaliyomo. Matokeo yamewasilishwa kwa njia ya maelezo. Matokeo ya utafiti yanaonyesha kuwa mawakili, hakimu, walalamishi na washtakiwa hutumia mikakati mbalimbali ya mawasiliano ambayo inaweza kuibua migogoro ya kimawasiliano au kuimarisha maelewano kati ya washiriki. Mikakati hii huwa na athari kubwa katika ufanisi wa mchakato wa maamuzi ya kesi. Makala hii inaonyesha kuwa lugha hutumiwa kama chombo muhimu cha utatuzi wa migogoro, lakini matumizi yake yanategemea sana mikakati ya mawasiliano yanayochaguliwa na washiriki. Makala hii inapendekeza kuwa, mahakama ihimize kutumiwa kwa mikakati ya mawasiliano ambayo itachochea athari chanya katika mawasiliano licha ya tofauti za kimamlaka baina ya wazungumzaji. Aidha, watafiti wa baadaye wachunguze mikakati ya mawasilano inayotumika kupitia njia ya kidijitali kwa kuwa hivi karibuni, vikao vya mahakama vinaendeshwa kupitia mitandao.

ENGLISH

This article examines the communication strategies employed in land ownership dispute cases at the Environment and Land Court in Kisumu City. The study was guided by Communication Accommodation theory propounded by Giles (1973) and later developed by Giles et al. (1991). This theory asserts that interlocutors adjust their language use depending on the context, identity and goals of the interaction. Data was collected at the Environment and Land Court of the High Court in Kisumu City. The target population consisted of six cases scheduled for hearing at the court in October 2017. Purposive sampling was used to select the court and four cases conducted in Kiswahili. Non-participant observation was used as the data collection method. Data was organised and analysed using content analysis. The findings have been presented descriptively. The results of the study indicate that lawyers, magistrates, plaintiffs and defendants employ various communication strategies that may either generate communicative conflict or enhance mutual understanding among participants. These strategies have significant implications for the effectiveness of the judicial decision-making process. The article demonstrates that language functions as an important tool for conflict resolution. However, its effectiveness largely depends on the communication strategies participants select. This article recommends that courts should encourage the use of communication strategies that promote positive communicative outcomes despite power differences among the speakers. Furthermore, future researchers should examine communication strategies used in digital settings, given the increasing use of online platforms for court proceedings.

Keywords: Communication strategies, conflicts, courts, engagement, language