Personal Names in Meskwaki

Abstract

Abstract:Traditionally, Meskwaki personal names are assigned from an ancient stock of names. At any given point in history, names are assigned uniquely, by clan. It is of critical importance to match the right name with the right individual. Semantically speaking, Meskwaki names typically refer to an aspect of a story about the clan animal(s). Morphologically speaking, Meskwaki names are most often participles or deverbal nouns. They are rarely or never simple nouns, but are sometimes compound nouns. They are sometimes nominalized phrases. Certain kinds of Meskwaki names exhibit morphology found nowhere else in the language.