Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home AfricaBib Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Communicating 'nominatim': some social aspects of Bono personal names
Author:Ansu-Kyeremeh, KwasiISNI
Year:2000
Periodical:Research Review (ISSN 0855-4412)
Volume:16
Issue:2
Pages:19-33
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Ghana
West Africa
Subjects:Abron
personal names
communication
Abron (African people)
names
Abstract:The article describes various communication functions performed by Bono (a Ghanaian people) personal names. Indeed, in the non-western context of Ghana, personal names have been linked to social status, or may have cosmic or religious significance, or may assume gender dimensions. From data obtained from interviews and observations, the article establishes a basic two-name Bono personal name format. It outlines the different characteristics, attributes and formats of Bono names, classifying them into ascribed or acquired, circumstantial (fixed and substitute) and day-based names. The characterization includes the capacity of certain classes of names to generate meaning. The article concludes that the dynamism of the naming system seems to be transforming name formats to a degree that is causing a loss in their communicative attributes. It thus predicts a future in which the communicative capacity of the Bono personal name may not be so evident. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
Views