NJOMACS

This work studied death prevention personal names of selected languages in Nasarawa State from the ethno-linguistic perspective. Naming practice, though universal or cross-cultural among human societies, it is remarkably idiosyncratic in style, custom etc. among cultures and ethnic groups. The paper argued that naming practices are not arbitrary labels, but sociocultural tags that show socio-cultural functions, roles and meanings. The study investigated the peculiarities and commonalities in death prevention names in selected languages in the state. Data for the study were obtained through interviews, personal observation and analyzed using the Leipzig Glossing Rules. Findings from the research showed that these names undergo different derivational processes and there is a strong interface between a people’s language and their cultural practices, i.e. it mirrors how a language is used as a cultural practice and how it serves as a window to understanding the worldview and philosophy of a given people.