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

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Bilateral DescentDependentRule Of Descent
CannibalismDependentCannibalism
Judicial AuthorityDependentJudicial Authority
LiteracyDependentWriting
Patrilineal DescentDependentRule Of Descent
PopulationDependentPopulation
Technological ComplexityDependentAgricultural Machinery
Belief in ReincarnationDependentEschatology
Sex-Typed NamesIndependentPersonal Names
Power of Religious Authorities Greater than Political LeadersDependentCommunity Heads, Priesthood
Naming Signifies ParenthoodDependentAge Stratification, Naming, Personal Names
Name Changes During LifeDependentPersonal Names, Naming
AnimismDependentSpirits And Gods, Theological Systems
Special Relationship with NamesakesDependentPersonal Names, Etiquette