Age and Gender-based Sociolinguistic Differences in Naming Patterns among Bedouin Communities in Jordan

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to examine and reveal the sociolinguistic implications of personal male names used in the Jordanian Bedouin community as incarnated in the Bani Saker tribe. The study also aimed to trace the changes that occurred to naming patterns in three successive generations: sons, fathers and grandfathers. Male-naming of Jordan represented by the Bani Sakhar tribe. It aims at revealing the sociolinguistic implications of the names and differences in naming patterns throughout three successive generations (sons, fathers, and grandfathers). Based on a previous study conducted by the researcher on female names, this study also attempts to highlight the gender- specific differences in naming among this community. Method: The researcher carried out an in-depth analysis of 300 full names of school male students obtained from 20 male schools affiliated with Al- Muwaqqar Directorate of Education. This sample was selected by drawing 15 names from each school. Then, the names were divided into 3 categories (sons, fathers, and grandfathers) and grouped into several classifications according to their sociolinguistic implications. Results: The study results showed that the names given to males through the three generations underwent some changes on the level of their sociolinguistic implications as well the level of the motive behind their selection of names. It also showed that naming in each generation had different backgrounds; that naming among this tribe has experienced some shift away from traditional Bedouin names in favor of modern names. For example, 34.7% of the grandfathers' names constituted Bedouin-exclusive names compared to 9.6% and only 2% of the fathers and sons’ names, respectively. As for the gender specific differences, results revealed some commonalities regarding certain aspects as well as significant differences in other aspects. The Bedouin exclusive names, for example, accounted for 69% of the grandmothers’ names compared to 34.6% of the grandfathers’ category. Conclusions: The study highlights the strong affinity between the lifestyle change of Bedouin communities and the naming patterns in those communities. It also suggests that gender plays a considerable role in naming conventions.