A socio-onomastic perspective of translated first names used in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Botswana

Abstract

This study investigates the unique English first names used by families in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Botswana. The majority of these names are first conceived in the first language spoken by the name-giver(s) such as Shona, Kikuyu, Setswana and Kalanga and then literally translated into English. This often results in unique English names which are hilarious. The research collected data through a random survey, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with parents who have used some chosen names for their children. The collected data were analysed using socio-onomastics, a sociolinguistic approach that examines names through sociolinguistic lenses. The study found that unique English names which are first conceived in the name-giver’s first language are given to newborn babies by Shona-, Kikuyu-, Kalanga- and Setswana-speaking parents and are either coincidences or expressions of deep emotions related to sociocultural experiences such as infidelity, poverty, divorce, disease, barrenness and family feuds. The study also established that some individuals with these names avoid making reference to their names, or dislike being addressed by them. Instead, they resort to creative renaming, such as front or back clipping, abbreviations and acronyms, instead of their full names. This results in the creation of new English names that are later adopted by other families and given to their newborns. In addition, in cases where individuals with unique English names have multiple names, they abandon their unique English names and resort to using their middle Shona, Kiswahili, or Setswana names.