RIDDLES AND TONGUE TWISTERS

CLASS: FORM ONE

ORAL SKILLS: LISTENING AND SPEAKING

TOPIC: SHORT FORMS-RIDDLES AND TONGUE TWISTERS

 

Riddles 

These are word puzzles in which familiar things or situations are referred to in figurative terms for one to unravel the meaning. 

They mostly take the question-answer format and are usually brief. 

Riddles make reference to well-known objects in a society in a veiled language. Some riddles occur in form of comparison. 

Riddles serve various purposes which include:

• Entertainment
• Education
• As opening formulae 
• Recording history
• Social commentary 

 

Occasion of riddle playing 

This is when riddles are played. Riddling sessions usually took place in the evenings after meals before children went to bed. 

 

Audience 

Mainly told to children in order to sharpen their wits as well as educate them, but some riddles may be used for entertainment of broader audiences like members of a family before a story telling session. 

 

The riddling process 

1.          Invitation/challenge 
A challenger indicates intention to pose a riddle e.g. Kitendawili (Swahili) Kwata ndai (Akamba) 

 

2.           Acceptance 

Members of the audience respond to the challengers call e.g. Tega (Swahili) Naa kwata (Akamba) 

 

3.          The riddle. Here the challenger poses the riddle. 

4.          Guesses. The members of the audience attempt to unveil the meaning. 

5.          Prize. If they fail, the challenger demands for a prize.

 

6.          Answer. The challenger provides the correct answer for the riddle. 

 
Example of a riddling process 

Challenger: Kitendawili

Respondent: Tega 

Challenger: Nyumba yangu kubwa haina taa. 

Respondent: Nimeshindwa kufafanua. 

Challenger: Nipe mji

Respondent: Malaba 

Challenger: Nilienda Malaba nikaambiwa niwaletee salamau, mwazipokea? 

Respondent: Ndio

Challenger: Kaburi 

 

 

Tongue twisters

These are word games with phrases and sounds that are difficult to articulate. They provide amusement as well as help improve pronunciation and fluency. 

They utilize sound features such as alliteration which helps improve articulation. 

You probably have heard this one before, haven’t you? She sells sea-shells at the sea shore. 

Can you say it fluently? 

 

KCSE SAMPLE QUESTIONS ON RIDDLES AND TONGUE TWISTERS 

 KCSE ENGLISH 2020 PAPER 1

Study the riddle below and answer the questions that follow:

Challenger    : Take a riddle.

Respondent  : I take it.

Challenger     : This small woman cooks better than your mother.

Respondent   : It's a bee.

 

(I)      Describe the stages of a riddling process evident in the riddle above. (4 marks)

(II)     Who are the most likely participants in a riddling process? (1 mark)

(III)   What would have happened if the respondent had not got the right answer? (1 mark)

KCSE ENGLISH 2017 PAPER 1

 3 (b) Identify a sound feature in each of the short forms given below. (4 marks)  

I.    Challenger: It can be cracked, it can be made 

   It can be told, it can be played. 

 

   What is it? 

    Respondent: A joke. 

 

  II.        Ken can can a can of curled Kales. 

 

Exercise: 

I looked right at Larry’s rally and left in a hurry. 

 

1.  Identify the sound features in the item above. (2 marks)

2.  What functions do the sound features serve? (1 mark) 

3.  What would be lost if the item is translated? (2 marks) 

Next we analyse oral skills notes on intonation.

Notes on KCSE English paper 3 essay questions and answers

Do you know any riddles or tongue twisters from your community? Please share them in the comments section below.