Communicating 'nominatim': some social aspects of Bono personal names

Abstract

This article describes various communication functions performed by Bono (a Ghanaian people) personal names. Indeed, in the non-western context, personal names have been linked to social status, or may have cosmic or religious significance, or may assume gender dimensions. From data obtained from interviews and observations, it establishes a basic twoHtiame Bono personal name format. It outlines the different characteristics, attributes and formats of Bono names classifying them into ascribed or acquired, circumstantial (fixed and substitute) and day-based names. The characterisation includes the capacity of certain classes of names to generate meaning. The article concludes with the observation that the dynamism of the naming system seems to be transforming name formats to a degree that is causing a loss in their communicative attributes. A future in which the communicative capacity of the Bono personal name may not be so evident is, thus, predicted.