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

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

Hypothesis

More extensive naming ceremonies will be positively associated with societal complexity, population, use of patrilineal descent, and presence of high gods (47).

Note

Most significant correlations occur with complexity of military organization (Tau = 0.42, p < 0.01), presence of high god(s) (Tau = 0.40, p < 0.01), belief in reincarnation (Tau = 0.29), picking of name by parents (Tau = -0.41, p < 0.01), signification by name of social legitimacy (Tau = -.37) and taboo on names of the dead (Tau = -0.31, p < 0.01). At p < 0.05 level, the variables naming signifies parenthood, name taboo (spouse), societal complexity, technological complexity, extralocal jurisdictional levels, specialists in communal activities, totemism, population, and patrilineal descent are positively associated, and 'given name' as exclusive naming component is negatively associated.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Kendall's TauSupportedp < 0.05UNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Belief In High GodsDependentSpirits And Gods
Military OrganizationDependentMilitary Organization
Name Taboo (deceased)DependentPersonal Names
Patrilineal DescentDependentRule Of Descent
PopulationDependentPopulation
Societal ComplexityDependentTerritorial Hierarchy
TotemismDependentSacred Objects And Places, Theological Systems
Extralocal Jurisdictional LevelsDependentTerritorial Hierarchy
Specialists in Communal ActivitiesDependentOccupational Specialization
Belief in ReincarnationDependentEschatology
Parents Pick NameDependentNaming, Personal Names
Naming Signifies Social LegitimacyDependentNaming, Personal Names
'Given Name' as Exclusive Name ComponentDependentPersonal Names
Naming Signifies ParenthoodDependentAge Stratification, Naming, Personal Names
Name Taboo (Spouse)DependentPersonal Names
Elaborate Naming CeremoniesIndependentPersonal Names, Naming