Bimanese Personal Names: Meaning and Use

Abstract

A personal name may be defined as a label which serves to distinguish one individual from others. Although it may be disputed how adequately personal names serve to identify individuals in some groups (e.g., Marshall I965) or even whether it is proper to call some labels personal names (Levi-Strauss I966), it appears that the great majority of societies do assign personal names to individuals. The many descriptions of personal naming systems which have appeared in the ethnographic literature (cf. Levi-Strauss I966; Conklin I972) have clearly established that in many systems personal names not only label individuals but also convey information about social relationships. For example, many North American Indian and Australian groups derive their personal names from clan animals; hence personal names serve to associate individuals with their clans (Levi-Strauss I 966). Also, as Americans, we are well aware of the relationship among American surnames, family structure, and descent lines. Many other examples could be offered. A few studies have shown that personal naming systems are not only labels and a means of conveying information, they also have social consequences. Geertz and Geertz (I964) argue that the Balinese practice of using teknonyms, rather than other types of names, creates a genealogical amnesia which systematically inhibits the formation of truly lineal kinship groups and facilitates the flexible recruitment of persons to kinship groups. Antoun (I968) shows that in an Arab village calling a man by a nickname is a means of derogating him and thus influencing attitudes toward him. The purpose of this study is to show that not only does the use of names have social consequences, but also that the naming system is an instrument for the management of interpersonal relations. The particular example provided here is the naming system in use among the Bimanese, an Indonesian group. The Bimanese have a clear idea of the concept of personal names. In Bima, as in Bali, individuals can choose from among alternative names when addressing or referring to one another; the choice is made according to the purposes of the speaker. However, unlike Arab nicknames which derive their power from the meanings of the words taken as nicknames, the power of Bimanese names is derived directly from the naming system itself.