Human Cultural Names In Gugage: Roles, Patterns and Dynamics of Change

Abstract

This article reports a descriptive account of naming practices in Gurage society. It specifically aims to investigate the socio- cultural roles of names; if the names have formal and semantic patterns; and the extent to which the cultural naming practices are maintained through time. Qualitative research methodology was followed in the study. Socio-cultural and linguistic data were collected using key informants. The collected data were analyzed thematically; they were grouped based on gender differences, formal patterns, and meanings. Trend analysis was used to show degree of maintenance or endangerment of cultural name giving practices. The results of the study showed that names, which are often given by grandparents, parents, or neighbors express the name givers aspirations, fears, beliefs, gender roles and power relations. The naming patterns largely changed form cultural or ethnic personal names into Amharic and religious names. The causes for such changes were found to be denigration, religion, and Amharic hegemony. It was further found that giving cultural personal names to newborn babies were revitalized in the last two decades.