Naming and identity: a cross-cultural study of personal naming practices

HRAF Press • New Haven • Published In • Pages: ??•
By Alford, Richard

Hypothesis

Address by kin term will be positively associated with kin-centered societies in which personal names lack surnames, patronym, or clan/lineage names (100).

Note

Most significant (p < 0.01) associations occurred with the variables father picks name (Tau = -0.42), number of name taboos (Tau = 0.69), name taboo (parents) (Tau = 0.43), name taboo (spouse) (Tau = 0.39), and name taboo (in-laws) (Tau = 0.43). At p < 0.05 significance, name uniqueness, naming occurs later, name changes during lifetime, name taboo (deceased), cannibalism, headhunting, and animism are positively associated, while parents pick name, technological complexity, extralocal jurisdictional levels, specialists in communal activities, and population are negatively associated.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Kendall's TauSupportedp < 0.05UNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
CannibalismDependentCannibalism
Name Taboo (deceased)DependentPersonal Names
PopulationDependentPopulation
Technological ComplexityDependentAgricultural Machinery
HeadhuntingDependentAftermath Of Combat
Extralocal Jurisdictional LevelsDependentJudicial Authority, Territorial Hierarchy
Specialists in Communal ActivitiesDependentOccupational Specialization
Parents Pick NameDependentNaming, Personal Names
AnimismDependentSpirits And Gods, Theological Systems
Name UniquenessDependentPersonal Names
Name Changes During LifetimeDependentNaming, Personal Names
Naming Occurs LaterDependentNaming, Personal Names
Address by Kin TermIndependentKinship Terminology, Personal Names
Name Taboo (Parents)DependentPersonal Names
Name Taboo (Spouse)DependentPersonal Names, Regulation Of Marriage
Number of Name TaboosDependentPersonal Names
Father Picks NameDependentPersonal Names, Naming
Name Taboo (In-Laws)DependentPersonal Names, Regulation Of Marriage