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

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

Hypothesis

Sex-typing of names will be positively associated with societal size and complexity (67).

Note

Most significant correlations occurred with naming which signifies parenthood (Tau = 0.19, p < 0.01), naming which changes in an individual's life (Tau = -0.26, p < 0.01), literacy (Tau = 0.36, p < 0.01), population (Tau = 0.31, p < 0.01), patrilineal descent (Tau = 0.45, p < 0.01), and bilateral descent (Tau = -0.36, p < 0.01). At p < 0.05 significance, the variables special relationship with namesakes, technological complexity, judicial authority, and power of religious authorities greater than political leaders are positively associated, and belief in reincarnation, cannibalism, and animism are negatively associated.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Kendall's TauSupportedp < 0.05UNKNOWNUNKNOWN