Linguistic Analysis of Yorubanized Ilorin Personal Names; A Clue from Socio-linguistic, Semantic and Syntax Analyses

Fatima Funmilola  Jaiyeola; Kafayat Bukola  Daramola

Authors

Fatima Funmilola Jaiyeola Kwara State Polytechnic, P.M.B 1375, Ilorin.
Kafayat Bukola Daramola Kwara State Polytechnic, P.M.B 1375, Ilorin.

Keywords:

Identity, Language, semantic, socio-linguistic, syntax, personal names

Abstract

Scholarly works on Yoruba names in relations to society abounds, with little or none on interplay of personal names among Yorubanized Ilorin indigenes via socio-linguistic, semantic/pragmatic and syntactic analyses en route identity. Thus, this research was conducted to understand the meaning and context of naming, societal perceptions and the linguistic features of personal names of Yorubanized Ilorin indigenes and their possibilities in signaling identity. Thus, 150 questionnaires were used to elicit information on personal names from three (3) selected tertiary institutions in Ilorin; Kwara State University, Polytechnic and University of Ilorin. The findings indicated that Ilorin indigenes are patriarchy and give their children positive, meaningful and reason-based names within a particular context while giving considerations to the future of the bearers. However, they avoid gods or goddesses totally from their names possibly as a result of their Islamic faith and or modernization/ globalization. Also, their personal names do not differ from those of other Yoruba sub groups, hence, those personal names were not exclusive to them. They are rather tags for any individual, thus signal personal and not ethnic identity. Syntactically, Yoru?ba? personal names borne by I?lo?rin indigenes (YPNII) are noun phrase, adverbial noun phrase, prepositional noun phrase and noun clause. YPNII are sentential with similar syntax, semantics and structure as other Yoru?ba? names.

References

. K. Harder, "Names". In: Microsoft Encarta 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008 pp 1.

. L. Mphande, "Naming and Linguistic Africanisms in African American Culture" In J.H. Mugane, Worman, J.P. & Dee, A. (Eds.) Selected Proceedings of the 35th Annual Conference on African Linguistics. Somerville, MA: 2006, pp 104– 113. www.lingref.com/cpp/acal/35/paper1301, [accessed December 12, 2010. 2006]

. J. Coates, "Women, Men and Language". London: Longman, 2005.

. U. Vikameln, Characteristics of Anthroponyms,. Retrieved from www.studymode.com 2013

. R.O. Ìkọ̀tún, "Surnames as Markers of Identity among the Yorùbá Sub-Ethnic Group Members" Open Journal of Modern Linguistics, 2014, vol 4, 307-316.[ http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojml.2014.42025]

. Owólabí, Olú et al. Ìwé Ìgbàradì Fún Ìdánwò Às̩ekágbá Yorùbá Ilé Eko Ṣe kondírì Àgbà. Ìbàdàn: Evans Brothers 2009.

. Ṣówándé, Fẹlá/Àjànàkú, Fágbèmí Orúkọ Àmútọ̀runwá. Ìbàdàn: Ìbàdàn University Press 1969.

. S. A. Ẹkúndayọ̀, "Restrictions on Personal Name Sentences in the Yorùbá Noun Phrase". .African Linguistics, 1977, vol. 19, 55- 77.

. C. L. Adéoyè, Orúkọ Yorùbá. Ìbàdàn Oxford University Press 1972

. J. O. Awolalu, Yoruba beliefs and sacrificial Rites Essex: Longman Group Ltd 1979.

. Dáramolá, Olú/Jéjé, Adébáyo Àwo n Àṣà àti Òrìṣà Ile Yorùbá. Ìbàdàn Oníbon-Òjé Press/Book Industries 1967

. Òkédìjí, Olú F. et al. "The Sociological Aspects of Traditional Yorùbá Names and Titles". 1971 Odù 5: 64–79.

. C. L. Adéoyè, Àsà àti Ìse Yorùbá. Ìbàdàn Ìbàdàn University Press 1979.

. Owólabí, Olú et al. Ìwé Ìgbàradì Fún Ìdánwò Às̩ekágbá Yorùbá Ilé Eko Ṣe kondírì Àgbà. Ìbàdàn Evans Brothers 2009

. R.O. Ìkotún, "The Sociolinguistic Criteria Guiding Invitation To Meals Among The Yorùbá of South-Western Nigeria". Journal of West African Languages 2011 vol. 38, 21–31.

. S. Pinker, The Language Instinct London: Penguin 1994 pp17.

. J. Aitchison, 'The Seeds of Speech: Language Origin and Evolution'. 2000 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000 p17 5

. R. Fasold, The Sociolinguistics of Society Oxford: Basil Blackwell 1984 Vol.1

. O. Jespersen, "Mankind, Nation and Individual (From a Linguistic Point of View)" London, George Allen & Unwin Ltd 1946 pp9-10.

. K. Gibson, English only court Cases involving the U.S. Workplace: The Myths of Language Use and the Homogenization of Bilingual Workers’ Identities. Second Language Studies, 2004 vol 22 (2), 1-60.

. B. Spolsky, "Second-language learning" Handbook of language and ethnic identity, edited by J. Fishman Oxford: Oxford University Press 1999 pp 181-192..

. S. Wacewicz and P. Żywiczyński. Language Evolution: Why Hockett’s Design Features are a Non-Starter. Biosemiotic 2014 10.1007/s12304-014-9203-2

. J. Chambers, English: "Canadian varieties". In John Edwards (ed.), Language in Canada. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1998.

. J. Blommaert, "Discourse: a critical introduction". Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, pp 205-206

. De Pinar-Cabral, Joao "What's in a Name: Personal Identity and Linguistic Identity in a Cosmopolitan World. Preliminary version of paper written for the symposium on "Multilingualism and Intercultural Dialogue in Globalisation"". New Delhi, December

: pp1–7.

. B. Norton, "Identity and Language Learning: Gender, Ethnicity and Educational Change" Essex: Perason, 2000.

. O. Z. Barnawi, The Construction of Identity in L2 Academic Classroom Community: A Small Scale Study of Two Saudi MA in TESOL Students at North American University". Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies 2009 vol. 5, 62–84.

. S. Reicher, The Context of Social Identity: Domination, Resistance, and Change" Political Psychology 2004 vol. 25 921–945. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3792283.

. Val, Andriana/Vinogradova, Polina "What is the Identity of a Heritage Language"

language–speaker.pdf, accessed November 19, 2010.

. U. Ansaldo, Identity Alignment and Language Creation in Multilingual Communities". Language Sciences 2010 vol. 32: 615–623.

. J. Thornborrow, "Power Talk: Language and Interaction in Institutional Discourse" London: Longman 2002.

. P. Bourdieu, Language and Symbolic Power. Cambridge: Polity 1991, pp 120.

. L. Layne, "Your Child Deserves a Name: Possessive Individualism and the Politics of Memory in Pregnancy Loss". In: The Anthropology of Names and Naming, Barbara Bodenhorn & Gabrielevom Bruck (eds.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2006 pp. 31-50.

. R.O. Ìkọ̀tún, Pragmatics and discourse roles of Yorùbá personal names among the contemporary Yorùbá society 2010

. T.N. Quarcoopome, West African Traditional Religion. Ibadan: AUP Pilgrims Books Ltd 1987 pp 118.

. N. F. Akinnaso, "The Sociolinguistic Basis of Yorùbá Personal Names" Anthropological Linguistics vol 22: 275–304

. B. A. Oyèníyì, Dress and identity in Yorùbáland, 2012 pp 1880-1980.

. CIA World Factbook 2013-2014 edition, ISSN 1553-8133

. L.A.K. Jimoh, Ìlọrin the Journey So Far, Atoto Press Limited. 1994

. S. Y. Ọmọiya, "The survival of an emirate system in a multicultural society; A case study of Ìlọrin emirate in the 20th century" pp 117-119 2003

. G. R. Osborn, NAK Ilorprof 5D 3640, Ilorin Town General Notes. pars. 2 1928.

. S. A. B. Lloyd, "Gwandu Emirates in the Nineteenth Century with Specific Reference to Political Relations: 1817-1903" (Ph. D. thesis, University of Ibadan, 1971), p 391.

. A. Babalọlá, and O. Alába, "A Dictionary of Yorùbá Personal Names". Lagos, West African Book Publishers 2003.

. T.K. Sangotoro, "The Grammar of Yorùbá Personal Names. M.A. Dissertation, University of Ibàdán" 2002

. M. K. Ajileye, and S.S. Ajileye, "Pragma-sociolinguistic features of Yorùbá nicknames". In Bayo Lawal (Ed.) Stylistics in theory and practice. Ìlọrin: Paragon 2003.

. F.F. Jaiyeola, J. Emuchay, and Z. Moshood Nicknames as Marker of Identity in Ilorin; a Socio Linguistic Analysis. Journal of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. 2018 vol 46 87-100. www.iiste.org

. F.F. Jaiyeola Sociolinguistic analysis of surname as marker of identity among Ilorin Indigenes in Nigeria, Journal of Studies in Social Sciences and Humanities 2020 Vol 6, 39-51[http://www.jssshonline.com/]

. G Fasiku “Yoruba proverbs, Names and National Consciousness" The Journal of Pan African Studies 2006, Vol. 1, no 4

. J. H. Askhari. "The African Book Of Names: 5,000+ Common and Uncommon Names from the African" Health Communications, Inc Continent ISBN: 2009 0-7573-0779-5.

Linguistic Analysis of Yorubanized Ilorin Personal Names; A Clue from Socio-linguistic, Semantic and Syntax Analyses

Authors

Keywords:

Abstract

References

Downloads

Published

How to Cite

Issue

Section

License

Developed By

Make a Submission

Information

Browse

Current Issue