KENYAN POLITICAL PARTY SYMBOLS: AN INTERPLAY BETWEEN LINGUISTIC AND POLITICS IN DESIGN AND CHOICE OF SYMBOLS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21111/ijelal.v6i1.15286Keywords:
CDA, Linguistic Manipulation, Political Symbols, Semantic Field, SemioticsAbstract
This study examines the symbolic design of Kenyan Political Party (KPP) symbols by analyzing 118 symbols drawn from officially registered parties. Using a semiotic framework supported by Critical Discourse Analysis, the study identifies the structural features, types of signs, semantic fields, and sense relations represented in these symbols. The analysis shows that KPP symbols are strategically crafted to convey associative meanings linked to ideology, regional identity, class positioning, religious values, and the lived experiences of ordinary citizens. The findings further reveal that symbols function not only as visual identifiers for voters—including those with low literacy levels—but also as tools for political persuasion and identity construction. Overall, the study demonstrates that KPP symbols carry layered linguistic and political meanings, making them central to the discursive practices of Kenyan electoral politics.References
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