Toponymy in Igbomina Yoruba Language: An Anthropological Linguistic Perspective

Abstract

<p>Toponymy, the study of place names, is an interesting geo-linguistic phenomenon in the ethnography of the Igbomina Yoruba people of Kwara State, Nigeria. The author is interested in the anthropological linguistic aspects of the topic. The research question is: what is the anthropo-linguistic significance of toponyms? Through the interview method of data elicitation, the author gathered information from Igbomina Community kings (Oba), Opinion leaders and custodian of public places, village squares and local museums. The study reveals that place names are very strong and reliable indices or records of people’s historical origin, their genetic relationships, their culture and philosophy. The author then classifies toponyms according to their anthropo –linguistic functions. The following typology of place names, were identified and analyzed: personal, place names, communal, ascriptive, descriptive, honorific, sacred/religious, taboo, etymological and general place names. It was found that toponyms are diachronic, geo-linguistic date marks which could be used in tracking down the history and age of a community, their migration and settlement, their language and dialect variation, the history of language change and language reconstruction, including language documentation.</p>