NSU Research Contributions
Title : Personal naming among the Santals in Bangladesh: Implications for maintenance of language and identity
Authors : TaniaRahman
Abstract : This paper reports a study on the sociolinguistic implications of personal naming of a section of migrant Santals in Dhaka, one of the minority indigenous groups of Bangladesh. In this study, the impact of multilingualism, religion, culture and history resulting in bi- and/or multilingual practices, accommodation and language maintenance in Santal naming have been explored. Based on Hymes (1974), Joseph (2004), and Lombard (2008), this study adopts an ethnolinguistic approach to names research by investigating linguistic, socio- historical, religious and cultural imprints on naming practices. For the study, a name list of 168 Santals has been randomly collected from several sources. Following Salih and Bader’s (1999) typology of personal naming, the paper categorizes the personal names of the Santals into names of Bangla, Santali and European language origins as well as classifies them into Christian and non-Christian (Hindu, animist and Muslim) religious categories analyzing the first and surnames. Next, from the categorization, the study seeks to arrive at conclusions regarding changing patterns of ethno-religious identities as well as implications for maintenance of ethno-cultural, ethno-linguistic and group identities of the community. Historically, since the ancient times, Bangladesh has been under numerous cross-cultural influences due to invasion, conquest and missionary activities of various religions. Consequently, shift or loss of ethno-linguistic and ethno-cultural identities of existing indigenous groups is expected as an obvious outcome of such multi-faceted influences. However, as the study shows, despite the pressure from the multi-layered socio-cultural impact, the naming practices of the group under investigation shows signs of ethno-cultural identity maintenance which may have significant implications for maintenance of the ethno-linguistic identity of the group. The study takes an ethnolinguistic, i.e., historical and sociological approach in linking historical accounts of intercultural influences and changing patterns of ethno-religious identities of indigenous groups in Bangladesh. In addition, the investigation also reveals a group attempt to balance between adopted religious identities and group identity by combining Christian and non-Christian names with Santali ones.
| Journal : | Volume : | Year : 2013 | Issue : |
| Pages : 198 | City : Singapore | Edition : 1 | Editors : |
| Publisher : ISB9 Local Organizing Committee, Division of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Na | ISBN : 978-981-07-6758-7 | Book : | Chapter : |
| Proceeding Title : 9th International Symposium on Bilingualism (ISB9) | Institution : | Issuer : | Number : |