Ikalanga Derived Personal Names: A Functionalist Approach
Corresponding Author(s) : Budzani Gabanamotse-Mogara
Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS),
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2013)
Abstract
This article discusses the way a personal name is derived, the context in which a name is
given in Ikalanga, as well as the meaning behind the name. It is argued that Ikalanga
personal names are derived from different grammatical categories such as verbs,
possessives, nouns, adjectives, etc. Ikalanga personal names have different meanings.
These meanings are mostly related to incidents that happen before pregnancy, at birth and
after birth. The article argues that most of the time the meaning is known to the namer,
and not the one to whom the name is bestowed. The article also looks at the arguments
selected by names formed from verbs. Verbs select different arguments to build up their
predicate argument structure. The article argues that names formed from verbal derivatives
select between one and three arguments to build up their argument structure.
Keywords
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- Alsina, A. 1992. On the argument structure of the causative. Linguistic Inquiry 23: 517–555.
- Alsina, S. & S. Mchombo. 1992. The syntax of applicatives in Chichewa: Problems for a Theta
- theoretic asymmetry. Natural Language and Linguistic Theory, 8: 493–506.
- Amanze, J.N. 2002. African traditional religions and culture in Botswana. Gaborone: Pula Press.
- Bangeni G.N. & A. Coetser. 2000. Xhosa first names, societal values and power relations. Nomina
- Africana, 14(2).
- Bresnan, J. 1982. The mental representation of grammatical relations. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The
- MIT Press.
- Bresnan, J, & J. Kanerva. 1988. Locative inversion in Chichewa: A case study of factorization in
- grammar. Linguistic Inquiry, 20: 1–50
- Bresnan, J, & R.M. Kaplan. 1982. Lexical functional grammar: A formal system for grammatical
- representation. In B. Joan (ed.). The mental representation of grammatical relations. Cambridge,
- Massachusetts: The MIT Press, pp. 173–275.
- Bresnan, J, & L. Moshi. 1990. Object asymmetry in comparative Bantu syntax. Linguistic Inquiry,
- (2): 147–185.
- Dowty, D. 1991. Thematic proto-roles and argument selection. Language, 67: 547–619.
- Foley, W, & J.R. Van Valin. 1984. Functional syntax and universal grammar. Cambridge, England:
- Cambridge University Press.
- Givon, T. 1984. Syntax: A functional typological introduction. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing
- Company.
- Haegeman, L. 1992. Theory and description in generative syntax. A case study in West Flemish.
- Cambridge Studies in Linguistics Supplementary, Volume XVIII. Cambridge: Cambridge University
- Press.
- Harford, C. 1993. The applicative in Chishona and lexical mapping theory. In: S. Mchombo (ed.).
- Theoretical aspects of Bantu grammar 1. Stanford: Center for the study of language and
- information. pp 93–111.
- Herbert, R.K. 1999. Personal names as social protest: The status of social political names. Names,
- (2): 109–124.
- Horn, G. 1983. Lexical functional grammar. Berlin: Mouton Publishers.
- Horrocks, G. 1987. Generative grammar. London: Longman.
- Jackendoff, R. 1990. Semantic structures. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.
- Kiparsky, P. 1987. On theory and interpretation. In: N. Fabb, D. Attridge, A. Durant & C. MacCabe
- (eds.). The linguistics of writing. New York: Methuen, pp 185–198.
- Matambirofa, F. 2003. A lexical mapping theory account of the applicative and causative extensions in
- Shona. Doctoral thesis, University of Zimbabwe.
- Mchombo, S. 1992. Reciprocalisation in Chichewa: A lexical account. Linguistic Analysis 21(1): 1–16.
- —. 1993. Reflexive and reciprocal in Chichewa. In: S.A. Mchombo (ed.). Theoretical aspects of Bantu
- grammar. Stanford: Center for the Study of Language and Information Publications. pp 203–221.
- Musere, J. 2000. Traditional African names. Lanham, Maryland and London: The Scarecrow Press Inc.
- Pongweni, A.J.C. 1983. Cultural and syntactic analysis of Shona names. Harare: Longman.
- Suzman, S.M. 1994. Names as pointers: Zulu personal naming practices. Language in Society
- :253–272.
- Thipa, H.M. 1984. What shall we name him? South African Journal of African Languages Supplement 1:
- –99
References
Alsina, A. 1992. On the argument structure of the causative. Linguistic Inquiry 23: 517–555.
Alsina, S. & S. Mchombo. 1992. The syntax of applicatives in Chichewa: Problems for a Theta
theoretic asymmetry. Natural Language and Linguistic Theory, 8: 493–506.
Amanze, J.N. 2002. African traditional religions and culture in Botswana. Gaborone: Pula Press.
Bangeni G.N. & A. Coetser. 2000. Xhosa first names, societal values and power relations. Nomina
Africana, 14(2).
Bresnan, J. 1982. The mental representation of grammatical relations. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The
MIT Press.
Bresnan, J, & J. Kanerva. 1988. Locative inversion in Chichewa: A case study of factorization in
grammar. Linguistic Inquiry, 20: 1–50
Bresnan, J, & R.M. Kaplan. 1982. Lexical functional grammar: A formal system for grammatical
representation. In B. Joan (ed.). The mental representation of grammatical relations. Cambridge,
Massachusetts: The MIT Press, pp. 173–275.
Bresnan, J, & L. Moshi. 1990. Object asymmetry in comparative Bantu syntax. Linguistic Inquiry,
(2): 147–185.
Dowty, D. 1991. Thematic proto-roles and argument selection. Language, 67: 547–619.
Foley, W, & J.R. Van Valin. 1984. Functional syntax and universal grammar. Cambridge, England:
Cambridge University Press.
Givon, T. 1984. Syntax: A functional typological introduction. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing
Company.
Haegeman, L. 1992. Theory and description in generative syntax. A case study in West Flemish.
Cambridge Studies in Linguistics Supplementary, Volume XVIII. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Harford, C. 1993. The applicative in Chishona and lexical mapping theory. In: S. Mchombo (ed.).
Theoretical aspects of Bantu grammar 1. Stanford: Center for the study of language and
information. pp 93–111.
Herbert, R.K. 1999. Personal names as social protest: The status of social political names. Names,
(2): 109–124.
Horn, G. 1983. Lexical functional grammar. Berlin: Mouton Publishers.
Horrocks, G. 1987. Generative grammar. London: Longman.
Jackendoff, R. 1990. Semantic structures. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.
Kiparsky, P. 1987. On theory and interpretation. In: N. Fabb, D. Attridge, A. Durant & C. MacCabe
(eds.). The linguistics of writing. New York: Methuen, pp 185–198.
Matambirofa, F. 2003. A lexical mapping theory account of the applicative and causative extensions in
Shona. Doctoral thesis, University of Zimbabwe.
Mchombo, S. 1992. Reciprocalisation in Chichewa: A lexical account. Linguistic Analysis 21(1): 1–16.
—. 1993. Reflexive and reciprocal in Chichewa. In: S.A. Mchombo (ed.). Theoretical aspects of Bantu
grammar. Stanford: Center for the Study of Language and Information Publications. pp 203–221.
Musere, J. 2000. Traditional African names. Lanham, Maryland and London: The Scarecrow Press Inc.
Pongweni, A.J.C. 1983. Cultural and syntactic analysis of Shona names. Harare: Longman.
Suzman, S.M. 1994. Names as pointers: Zulu personal naming practices. Language in Society
:253–272.
Thipa, H.M. 1984. What shall we name him? South African Journal of African Languages Supplement 1:
–99