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

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

Hypothesis

Naming institutions which confer parenthood will be positively associated with societal size, complexity, and use of unilineal descent (32).

Note

Most significant correlations occurred with formality of judicial authority (Tau = 0.23, p < 0.01), sex-typed names (Tau = 0.19, p < 0.01), and picking of names by aunts or uncles (Tau = 0.19, p < 0.01). At p < 0.05 significance, the variables elaborate birth ceremonies, naming signifies social legitimacy, exuvial magic, totemism, divorce rate, and patrilineal descent are positively associated, and 'given name' as exclusive naming component, mother picks name, uniqueness of names, teknonymy, name changes in individual's life, headhunting, and bilateral descent are negatively associated.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Kendall's TauSupportedp < 0.05UNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Bilateral DescentDependentRule Of Descent
Divorce RateDependentTermination Of Marriage
Elaborate Birth CeremonyDependentChildbirth
Judicial AuthorityDependentJudicial Authority
Patrilineal DescentDependentRule Of Descent
Societal ComplexityDependentTerritorial Hierarchy
Exuvial MagicDependentMagic
HeadhuntingDependentAftermath Of Combat
Sex-Typed NamesDependentPersonal Names
Uncle or Aunt Picks NameDependentPersonal Names, Naming
Naming Signifies Social LegitimacyDependentNaming, Personal Names
'Given Name' as Exclusive Name ComponentDependentPersonal Names
Mother Picks NameDependentPersonal Names, Naming
Naming Signifies ParenthoodIndependentAge Stratification, Naming, Personal Names
Name UniquenessDependentPersonal Names
Name Changes in Individual's LifeDependentPersonal Names, Naming