Towards a Language-Based Typology of Church Names in Ghana

Osei Yaw Akoto,Juliet Oppong-Asare Ansah

doi:10.38159/motbit.2021353

Abstract

Over the years, scholars have sought to provide language-based typologies of names, but while attempts have been made for some sub-branches of onomastics such as anthroponymy and toponymy, there is arguably none for ecclesionymy (the study of church names). Consequently, this paper sought to provide a language based typology of the hitherto underexplored area of church names. Data of names of churches in Ghana was built for the present study. Adopting content analysis as the analytical approach, the study realized that church names in Ghana are generally homogenous and heterogeneous linguistically. It was also realized that homogenous/unilingual church names involved English only, Akan only and Ewe only. On the other hand, the heterogeneous church names comprised two types: bilingual and trilingual church names, which contained varied language permutations from the three spheres in Osei Yaw Akoto’s classification of languages in Ghana. The paper concludes by making some recommendations for language-in-religion policy in Ghana. Keywords: Church names, Ecclesionymy, Glocal language, Unilingual

Highlights

One of the things that have engendered the attention of scholars in the field of onomastics is name typology or taxonomy for surnames,[1] nicknames,[2] place names[3] and names of teams,[4] etc
Over the years, scholars have sought to provide language-based typologies of names, but while attempts have been made for some sub-branches of onomastics such as anthroponymy and toponymy, there is arguably none for ecclesionymy
The study showed that the church names in Ghana are broadly homogeneous and heterogeneous linguistically, which are termed unilingual and multilingual respectively

Summary

Introduction

One of the things that have engendered the attention of scholars in the field of onomastics is name typology or taxonomy for surnames,[1] nicknames,[2] place names[3] and names of teams,[4] etc. It was easy to identify the English and Akan language-medium church names, given their advanced competence in them.

Results

Conclusion