A MORPHO-SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF MUMUYE PERSONAL NAMES

Abstract

The study of names which is equally referred to as onomastics or
onomatology is of great importance to human existence, especially
in Africa where people value culture, language, and communication.
Names are used as labels to identify persons, places, or things, and
are equally historical witnesses. The name of a person may be used
to trace his family genealogy, culture, language, occupation, or town
as well as communicate information to others. The researchers
employed mixture of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
The researcher recorded traditional festivals and ceremonies to
enable them document some of the festivals’ names and ceremonial
names that are fast facing extinction. The theoretical background
employed for this study is the theory speculated by the ancient
Greek and stoics about the universality of language. The researcher
discovered among others that names can make and mar a person.