Personal Names in Athu Language: A Sociolcultural and Semantic View
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SAUT
Abstract
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This study sought to investigate names and personal names in Athu language, focusing on
naming of persons specifically, to establish meaning of Athu personal names, identify the
social, economic and cultural factors for naming in Athu, and lastly to explain procedures
employed in naming in Athu, through name as the pointer and social semiotics theories.
The study employed qualitative method. The sample was selected using quota sampling
technique and simple random sampling technique and data were collected using in-depth
interviews and focus group discussions, researcher though a native speaker of Athu did not
consider the self-generated of data as means of data collection because of the principle of
bias. The content was obtained and analyzed using thematic analysis which groups and
organizes data in various themes based on specific objectives. The findings reveal that,
personal names (birth names) were not given to children randomly but instead various
social, cultural and economic factors were considered. Major factors that influenced the
selection of personal names were majorly various events and circumstances prevailing upon
pregnancy and birth of children. The study further revealed that the Athu personal names
are meaningful, and, the meanings attached to names convey potential information of the
parents before birth, they express the child background and describe behaviors/
characteristics of the parents/ child. Furthermore, the findings revealed that there are
various procedures which are involved when Athu people needs to give the newborn
children the name. The study concludes that naming procedures among Athu is dynamic.
Following this, the study recommends for future studies in different aspects of Athu
anthroponymy and onomastics in general to complete the image of personal names and
naming trends in Athu.
Keywords
Personal Names