Verbal Interaction of the Bongando in Central Zaire: With Special Reference to Their Addressee-Unspecified Loud Speech

Abstract

Daily verbal interaction of the Bongando, Bantu farmers in central Zaire was studied. Their speech forms were classified into four categories by two criteria: non-loud/loud, and addressee-unspecified/addressee-specified. Frequency of speeches in each category was measured by the time sampling method, and contents of them were analyzed. In these categories, I paid attention to "Addressee-Unspecified Loud speech (AUL speech)." This speech was uttered frequently, but completely differed from conversation. That is, (1) no "organizing device" of usual conversation, such as turn-taking system was confirmed, and (2) it was not certain that the speech was surely heard by others, and the people usually kept "ritual indifference" to the speech. By AUL speech, Bongando people manifested their own opinion, expressed complaints, and accomplished "feeling of co-presense." AUL speech was uttered as the speaker's own accord, regardless of the listeners' circumstances. Even so, inconsistency between the speaker and the listeners did not occur, because AUL speech was "cast" from the speaker, and was not certainly caught by others. This property ("castness") was thought to be an important method, which placed unrestrained AUL speech into the interaction system of the Bongando.