Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-03T16:48:04.746Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Chi Concept in Igbo Gender Naming

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

M. C. Ọnụkawa
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Gender distinctions in personal names are quite remarkable in African naming traditions. Such names are attractive to linguists and anthropologists alike, especially as they reflect preferences in semantic hierarchy and deeply ingrained gender biases. This article studies the gender naming in Igbo personal names that contain a key religious concept: Chi.

Résumé

Les distinctions de sexe des noms personnels sont assez remarquables dans les traditions africaines de choix du nom. Ces noms présentent un intérêt tant pour les linguistes que pour les anthropologistes, notamment parce qu'ils sont le reflet de préférences en matière de hiérarchie sémantique et de discriminations sexuelles profondément enracinées. Cet article étudie le choix du nom des filles et des garçons à travers les noms personnels Igbo contenant un concept religieux clé : Chi.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 70 , Issue 1 , February 2000 , pp. 107 - 117
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Achebe, C. 1975. ‘Chi in Igbo cosmology’, in Morning Yet On Creation Day. London: Heinemann.Google Scholar
Azuonye, C. 1987. ‘Igbo folktale and the evolution of Chukwu as the supreme God of Igbo religion’, Nsukka Journal of Linguistics and African Languages 1, 43–62.Google Scholar
Ebeogu, A. 1983. ‘Igbo sense of tragedy: a thematic feature of the Achebe school’, Literary Half-yearly xxiv No. 1. 24 (1), 67–86.Google Scholar
Echeruo, M. J. C. 1979. A matter of identity: Aha m efula. Ahiajoku Lecture Series, Owere: Ministry of Information and Culture.Google Scholar
Emenanjo, E. N. 1978. Elements of Modern Igbo Grammar. Ibadan: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Ikekeonwu, C. I. 1982. ‘Igbo Dialect Cluster: a classification’. Paper presented at the Seminar for Igbo Language Planning. Nsukka: University of Nigeria.Google Scholar
Isichei, E. 1976. A History of the Igbo People. London: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Maduka- Durunze, O. N. 1990. ‘Igbo adjectives as morphophonologized relatives’ Studies in African Linguistics 21 (2), 227–50.Google Scholar
Nwala, T. U. 1985. Igbo Philosophy. Ikeja: Lantern Books.Google Scholar
Nwoga, D. I. 1984. The Supreme God as Stranger in Igbo Religious Thought. Ahiazu Mbaise: Hawks Press.Google Scholar
Welmers, W. E. 1970. ‘The derivation of Igbo verb base’, Studies in African Linguistics 1(1), 49–59.Google Scholar