Naming Patterns among Northern Sotho, Xitsonga and Tshivenda Communities of SA: Religio-cultural Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/8010Keywords:
South African communities, naming patterns, indigenous names, African cultural heritageAbstract
This study discusses naming patterns and practices of three South African indigenous groups as representative examples, namely Northern Sotho, Xitsonga and Tshivenda, from a religio-cultural perspective. In almost every African culture and tradition, newly-born babies receive their names immediately after birth. Names are usually predetermined when the mother is pregnant. Although in numerous instances the parents are responsible for naming the baby, family members (e.g., aunts, grandparents, brothers, or sisters) may also suggest a name. The naming of babies is not a random exercise because religio-cultural meanings are attached to a name. By utilising a narrative approach as a method, the article argues that indigenous names carry meanings, and each name tells a story. The study aims at demonstrating that names play a significant role in the preservation, documentation and promotion of cultural heritage. The discussion commences by exploring naming patterns from a biblical perspective in order to provide a matrix for a religio-cultural thrust of child-naming within the aforementioned South African indigenous groups.
References
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Guma, M. 2001. “The Cultural Meaning of Names among Basotho of Southern Africa: A Historical and Linguistic Analysis.” Nordic Journal of African Studies 10 (3): 265–279.
Haber, H. 2001. “Theophoric Names in the Bible.” Jewish Bible Quarterly 29 (1).
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Hoffman, L. A. 1996. Covenant of Blood. Chicago: University of Chicago.
Jobling, A. M. 2001. “In the Name of the Father: Surnames and Genetics.” Trends in Genetics 17 (6): 353–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9525(01)02284-3.
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Lucock, C., and M. Yeo. 2006. “Naming Names: The Pseudonym in the Name of the Law.” University of Ottawa Law and Technology Journal 3 (1): 53–108.
Makhubedu, M. G. 2009. “The Significance of Traditional Names among the Northern Sotho Speaking People Residing within the Greater Baphalaborwa Municipality in the Limpopo Province.” Master’s dissertation. University of Limpopo.
Mandende, I. P. 2009. “A Study of Tshivenda Personal Names.” PhD thesis. University of South Africa.
Mbiti. J. S. 1990. African Religions and Philosophy, second revised and enlarged edition. London: Heinemann.
Mohome, P. M. 2013. “Naming in Sesotho: Its Sociocultural and Linguistic Basis.” A Journal of Onomastics 20 (3): 171–185. https://doi.org/10.1179/nam.1972.20.3.171.
Mohome, P. M. 1972. Naming in Sesotho: Its Socio-cultural and Linguistic Basis. New York: University College. https://doi.org/10.1179/nam.1972.20.3.171.
Mokhathi-Mbhele, M. M. L. 2016. “Describing Sesotho Names as Clause Complexes in Social Discourse: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Approach.” International Journal of English Language and Translation Studies 4 (4): 21–38.
Mphela, K. L. 2010. “An Analysis of Personal Naming in Moletjie Area of the Limpopo Province: An Onomastic Approach.” MA dissertation. University of Limpopo.
Musere, J., and S. C. Byakutaga. 1999. African Names and Naming. Los Angeles: Ariko Publications.
Mutunda, S. 2016. “Luvabe Personal Names and Naming Practices: A Socio-cultural Analysis.” International Journal of Education: Culture and Society 1 (3): 75–81.
Neethling, B. 2003. “Perceptions around the English Name of Xhosa Speakers.” Nomina Africana 17 (2): 47–65.
Neethling, B. 2004. “Name Choices among the Xhosa of South Africa.” The Language Quarterly XXIX (4): 1–32.
Nyambi, O., T. Mangena, and C. Pfukwa (Eds). 2016. The Postcolonial Condition of Names and Naming Practices in Southern Africa. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Olusola, A. G. 2005. “Animals in the Traditional Worldview of the Yoruba.” Folklore 30: 155–172. https://doi.org/10.7592/FEJF2005.30.olusala.
Olatunji, A., and M. Issah. 2015. “Personal Name as a Reality of Everyday Life: Naming Dynamics in Select African Societies.” The Journal of Pan African Studies 8 (3): 72–90.
Pelczar, W. M. 2001. “Names as Tokens and Names as Tools.” Synthese 128: 133–155. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010304825913.
Rugwiji, T. 2013. “Appropriating Judean Postexilic Literature in a Postcolonial Discourse: A Case for Zimbabwe.” PhD thesis. University of South Africa.
Rugwiji, T. 2014. “The Salvific Task of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 42: 1–7: A Contemporary Perspective.” Journal for Semitics 23 (2): 289–314. https://doi.org/10.25159/1013-8471/3492.
Sachs, J. D., and A. M. Warner. 1996. “Sources of Slow Growth in African Economies.” Journal of African Economies 6 (3): 335–376. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jae.a020932.
Sampson, R., J. Morenoff, and T. Gannon-Rowley. 2002. “Assessing ‘Neighbourhood Effects’: Social Processes and New Directions in Research.” Annual Review of Sociology 28:443–478. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.28.110601.141114.
Scott, E. S. 2004. “Marriage, Cohabitation and Collective Responsibility for Dependency.” University of Chicago Legal Forum 1 (7): 225–264.
Smith-Bannister, S. 1997. Names and Naming Patterns in England: 1538–1700. Oxford: Clarendon Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198206637.001.0001.
Smith, D. S. 1974. “Child-naming Practices as Cultural and Familial Indicators.” Local Population Studies 32: 17–27.
Suzman, S. M. 1994. “Names as Pointers: Zulu Personal Naming Practices.” Language in Society 23: 253–72. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500017851.
Tonkin, E. 1980. “Jealousy Names: Civilised Names: Anthroponomy of the Jlao Kru of Liberia.” Man 15: 643–64. https://doi.org/10.2307/2801538.
Waters, J. J. 1984. “Naming and Kinship in New England: Guilford Patterns and Usage, 1693–1759.” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 138: 161–162.
Wilson, S. 1998. The Means of Naming: A Social and Cultural History of Personal Names in Western Europe. Bristol: Penn: ULC Press.
Yen, I., and S. L. Syme. 1999. “The Social Environment and Health: A Discussion of the Epidemiologic Literature.” Annual Review of Public Health 20: 287–308. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.20.1.287.
Appiah, B. 2010. “African Names: A Guide for Editors.” Features 13 (1): 15–17.
Arowolo, D. 2010. “The Effects of Western Civilization and Culture on Africa.” Afro Asian Journal of Social Sciences 1 (1): 1–13.
Borkfelt, S. 2011. “What’s in a Name? Consequences of Naming non-Human animals.” Animals 1: 116–125. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani1010116.
Campbell, M., and T. Campbell. 1996. “Behind the Name.” Accessed November 7, 2017. http://www.behindthename.com/name/michael.
Chitando, E. 2001. “Beyond Phenomenology: Teaching African Traditional Religions in a Zimbabwean University.” ZJER 13 (2): 177–195. https://doi.org/10.4314/zjer.v13i2.25999.
Dreyer, Y. 2001. “Son-of-God Traditions in the Synoptic Gospels: Ferdinand Hahn’s Diachronic Perspective.” HTS 57 (1&2): 506–539. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v57i1/2.1878.
Feely, J. M. 2009. “IsiXhosa Names of South African Land Mammals.” African Zoology 44 (2): 141–150. https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2009.11407448.
Frankel, R. M., K. J. Devers, and J. Kelly. 2000. “Qualitative Research: A Consumer Guide.” Change and Practice 13 (1): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/135762800110664.
Guma, M. 2001. “The Cultural Meaning of Names among Basotho of Southern Africa: A Historical and Linguistic Analysis.” Nordic Journal of African Studies 10 (3): 265–279.
Haber, H. 2001. “Theophoric Names in the Bible.” Jewish Bible Quarterly 29 (1).
Hahn, F. 1974. Christologische Hoheitstitel: Ihre Geschichte im Frohen Christentum. 4. Aufl. Gottingen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht.
Hanks, P. (n.d.). “General Information.” Accessed November 7, 2017. http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/surnames/papers/Hanks_background.pdf. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-45344-0_1.
Hoffman, L. A. 1996. Covenant of Blood. Chicago: University of Chicago.
Jobling, A. M. 2001. “In the Name of the Father: Surnames and Genetics.” Trends in Genetics 17 (6): 353–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9525(01)02284-3.
Kierkegaard, S. 1962. The Present Age. New York: Harper Torchback.
Knight, D., and A-J. Levine. 2011. The Meaning of the Bible: What the Jewish Scriptures and Christian Old Testament Can Teach us, 1st edition. New York: Harper One.
Koma, H. M. 2012. “An Analysis of Given and Inherited Names among the Northern Sotho Speaking People in Moletjie and Sekhukhune: Limpopo Province: An Onomastic Perspective.” MA dissertation. University of Limpopo.
Liddel, H. G., and R. Scott. 1953. Greek-English Lexicon, 9th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Lucock, C., and M. Yeo. 2006. “Naming Names: The Pseudonym in the Name of the Law.” University of Ottawa Law and Technology Journal 3 (1): 53–108.
Makhubedu, M. G. 2009. “The Significance of Traditional Names among the Northern Sotho Speaking People Residing within the Greater Baphalaborwa Municipality in the Limpopo Province.” Master’s dissertation. University of Limpopo.
Mandende, I. P. 2009. “A Study of Tshivenda Personal Names.” PhD thesis. University of South Africa.
Mbiti. J. S. 1990. African Religions and Philosophy, second revised and enlarged edition. London: Heinemann.
Mohome, P. M. 2013. “Naming in Sesotho: Its Sociocultural and Linguistic Basis.” A Journal of Onomastics 20 (3): 171–185. https://doi.org/10.1179/nam.1972.20.3.171.
Mohome, P. M. 1972. Naming in Sesotho: Its Socio-cultural and Linguistic Basis. New York: University College. https://doi.org/10.1179/nam.1972.20.3.171.
Mokhathi-Mbhele, M. M. L. 2016. “Describing Sesotho Names as Clause Complexes in Social Discourse: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Approach.” International Journal of English Language and Translation Studies 4 (4): 21–38.
Mphela, K. L. 2010. “An Analysis of Personal Naming in Moletjie Area of the Limpopo Province: An Onomastic Approach.” MA dissertation. University of Limpopo.
Musere, J., and S. C. Byakutaga. 1999. African Names and Naming. Los Angeles: Ariko Publications.
Mutunda, S. 2016. “Luvabe Personal Names and Naming Practices: A Socio-cultural Analysis.” International Journal of Education: Culture and Society 1 (3): 75–81.
Neethling, B. 2003. “Perceptions around the English Name of Xhosa Speakers.” Nomina Africana 17 (2): 47–65.
Neethling, B. 2004. “Name Choices among the Xhosa of South Africa.” The Language Quarterly XXIX (4): 1–32.
Nyambi, O., T. Mangena, and C. Pfukwa (Eds). 2016. The Postcolonial Condition of Names and Naming Practices in Southern Africa. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Olusola, A. G. 2005. “Animals in the Traditional Worldview of the Yoruba.” Folklore 30: 155–172. https://doi.org/10.7592/FEJF2005.30.olusala.
Olatunji, A., and M. Issah. 2015. “Personal Name as a Reality of Everyday Life: Naming Dynamics in Select African Societies.” The Journal of Pan African Studies 8 (3): 72–90.
Pelczar, W. M. 2001. “Names as Tokens and Names as Tools.” Synthese 128: 133–155. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010304825913.
Rugwiji, T. 2013. “Appropriating Judean Postexilic Literature in a Postcolonial Discourse: A Case for Zimbabwe.” PhD thesis. University of South Africa.
Rugwiji, T. 2014. “The Salvific Task of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 42: 1–7: A Contemporary Perspective.” Journal for Semitics 23 (2): 289–314. https://doi.org/10.25159/1013-8471/3492.
Sachs, J. D., and A. M. Warner. 1996. “Sources of Slow Growth in African Economies.” Journal of African Economies 6 (3): 335–376. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jae.a020932.
Sampson, R., J. Morenoff, and T. Gannon-Rowley. 2002. “Assessing ‘Neighbourhood Effects’: Social Processes and New Directions in Research.” Annual Review of Sociology 28:443–478. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.28.110601.141114.
Scott, E. S. 2004. “Marriage, Cohabitation and Collective Responsibility for Dependency.” University of Chicago Legal Forum 1 (7): 225–264.
Smith-Bannister, S. 1997. Names and Naming Patterns in England: 1538–1700. Oxford: Clarendon Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198206637.001.0001.
Smith, D. S. 1974. “Child-naming Practices as Cultural and Familial Indicators.” Local Population Studies 32: 17–27.
Suzman, S. M. 1994. “Names as Pointers: Zulu Personal Naming Practices.” Language in Society 23: 253–72. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500017851.
Tonkin, E. 1980. “Jealousy Names: Civilised Names: Anthroponomy of the Jlao Kru of Liberia.” Man 15: 643–64. https://doi.org/10.2307/2801538.
Waters, J. J. 1984. “Naming and Kinship in New England: Guilford Patterns and Usage, 1693–1759.” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 138: 161–162.
Wilson, S. 1998. The Means of Naming: A Social and Cultural History of Personal Names in Western Europe. Bristol: Penn: ULC Press.
Yen, I., and S. L. Syme. 1999. “The Social Environment and Health: A Discussion of the Epidemiologic Literature.” Annual Review of Public Health 20: 287–308. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.20.1.287.
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2022-01-25
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Makgopa , Mokgale, and Temba T. Rugwiji. 2022. “Naming Patterns Among Northern Sotho, Xitsonga and Tshivenda Communities of SA: Religio-Cultural Perspective”. Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 47 (3):15 pages. https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/8010.
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