Abstract
Personal names, in African context, are not arbitrary. They are like signposts that convey a wide range of invaluable information about the bearers. Also, they are like a ‘social DNA’ that discloses the identity, family background, family history, family vocation and family deity of the bearer (Onadipe, 2012). Sadly however, studies, which are mostly sociolinguistic in perspective, abound to show that some of these given personal names are being anglicized among the younger generation of bearers (Soneye, 2008; Faleye & Adegoju, 2012; Raheem, 2013; Filani & Melefa, 2014). From the standpoint of socio-phonology and using Knobelauch’s (2008) Phonological Awareness as our theoretical framework, this paper investigates the phonological changes that Yoruba personal names undergo when they are anglicized; and their implication for the endangerment of Yoruba language. Perceptual and acoustic analyses of the data sourced from the written and verbalized (as well as recorded) anglicized names of 50 informants from a Nigerian University show “stress-shift” as the major prosodic strategy used by speakers to anglicize Yoruba personal names. Other phonological processes identified include re-syllabification, contraction, elision and substitution; but bearers are not overtly aware of these processes. Findings reveal further that though the “new names” are structurally more English than Yoruba, they are nevertheless pronounced with Yoruba tone by some bearers.
Highlights
Unlike in European countries, personal names in African context are not arbitrary; the prevailing circumstance dictates the name given to a child
Findings reveal further that though the “new names” are structurally more English than Yoruba, they are pronounced with Yoruba tone by some bearers
The results show that the respondents acknowledged the fact that anglicized names are less meaningful compared to Yoruba names and they do not reflect their nationality, language and culture
Summary
Unlike in European countries, personal names in African context are not arbitrary; the prevailing circumstance dictates the name given to a child. Personal names are like signposts as they convey a wide range of information about the bearers They are signposts that are often tightly knitted with parental or ancestral cultural world view as they reflect the sex, ethnic group, family background, family occupation, family history or family deity of the bearers. Harder (2008) defines names as ‘words signifying special and tangible things, either living, as in the case of a person or an animal, or inanimate, as in the case of a place or a concept.’ Harder (2008) further classifies human names into three: personal names (used to distinguish males and females in the human society); first names (given to people at birth) and last name ( known as surname) which reflects an individual’s family background, family occupation, location and parentage Dictionary.com (2016) defines a name as a word or a combination of words by which a person, place or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called or known. Harder (2008) defines names as ‘words signifying special and tangible things, either living, as in the case of a person or an animal, or inanimate, as in the case of a place or a concept.’ Harder (2008) further classifies human names into three: personal names (used to distinguish males and females in the human society); first names (given to people at birth) and last name ( known as surname) which reflects an individual’s family background, family occupation, location and parentage
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