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

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

Hypothesis

Protective-derogatory naming will be positively associated with societal size, complexity, and stratification (64).

Note

Most significant correlations occurred with 'given name' as exclusive name component (Tau = -0.21, p < 0.01), mother picking name (Tau = -0.21, p < 0.01), taboo on spouses name (Tau = 0.20, p < 0.01), technological complexity (Tau = 0.31, p < 0.01), literacy (Tau = 0.23, p < 0.01), belief in high gods (Tau = 0.35, p < 0.01), and population (Tau = 0.36, p < 0.01). At p < 0.05 significance, the variables societal complexity, extralocal jurisdictional levels, specialists in communal activities, social classes present, power of religious authorities greater than political leaders, and religious organization are positively associated, and animism and matrlineal descent are negatively associated.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Kendall's TauSupportedp < 0.05UNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Belief In High GodsDependentSpirits And Gods
LiteracyDependentWriting
Patrilineal DescentDependentRule Of Descent
Political AuthorityDependentCommunity Heads, Territorial Hierarchy
PopulationDependentPopulation
Social ClassesDependentClasses
Societal ComplexityDependentTerritorial Hierarchy
Technological ComplexityDependentAgricultural Machinery
Extralocal Jurisdictional LevelsDependentJudicial Authority, Territorial Hierarchy
Specialists in Communal ActivitiesDependentOccupational Specialization
'Given Name' as Exclusive Name ComponentDependentPersonal Names
Power of Religious Authorities Greater than Political LeadersDependentCommunity Heads, Priesthood
Mother Picks NameDependentPersonal Names, Naming
Degree of Religious OrganizationDependentTheological Systems, Priesthood
Derogatory-Protective NamesIndependentPersonal Names
Name Taboo (Spouse)DependentPersonal Names