A Pragmatic Analysis of Names and Naming in Igarra (Etuno)

The study examines the Pragmatic meanings of names and naming in Igarra (Etuno). Data gathered from Igarra (Etuno) names have been purposely selected for Speech Act analysis because of their assertive, penetrating and incisive messages. Specifically, the Speech Act theory which consists of locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary acts was applied in the data analysis. The ‘invisible meaning’ of the selected names were analysed using the pragmatic and linguistic tools of context and speech acts. It has been observed that Igarra people previously preferred names sourced from other languages especially Yoruba language but there have been shifts in attitude because of the realization that Igarra (Etuno) names are as meaningful as names from other climes. Another significant reason is the fact that Igarra people have now recognized the importance of preserving Etuno language. The study investigated the pragmatic implications of the names by exploring the reasons and circumstances of the selected names. The names were purposively selected from families and friends. For ease of analysis, the data were grouped according to different circumstances surrounding the names. The findings from this study showed that Igarra names do not only identify a person but also communicate so much about the circumstances surrounding the person’s birth. The study concludes that names perform several speech acts like informing, requesting, questioning or expressing gratitude which are reflective of the emotional link or expectations of the giver of the name. The study recommends that names and naming should indeed have cultural inkling and should reflect the situational nuances about their birth. This will aid language survival.