The Cultural Meaning of Names among Basotho of South Africa: A Historical and Linguistic Analysis

Abstract

'Names' are more than a 'word' or words by which a person, animal, place or thing is known, and does not fundamentally connote designation, reputation, or identification, separation of one individual from the other per se. Among Basotho in southern Africa 'Names' and the naming process is a socio-cultural interpretation of historical events. They embody individual or group social experiences, social norms and values, status roles and authority, as well as personality and individual attributes. The discussion focuses on the cultural meaning of personal names and their relationship with historical events. It is argued that the concepts of 'person' and 'self' among southern African societies have to be understood as historical social products.