SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDY OF NICKNAMING AMONG WOMEN IN UMUNZE IGBO

Abstract

When a woman is married in Umunze, a town in Igboland, she is expected to be given a nickname by other women in the extended family. They call one another by these names in events such as cultural dance and meetings organised by these women. Therefore, this study examines a sociolinguistic study of nicknaming among women in Umunze. It aims to ascertain the meaning of these names as well as their cultural implications. It looked into the patriarchal nature of the nicknames and the symbolical elements prevalent in the nicknames. The framework hinges on Feminist Linguistic Sex Difference theory. The researcher is a native speaker thereby uses her knowledge about the dialect in collecting data for this study. The findings are: nicknames among Umunze women are given based on the personalities of the two people involved-newly married and the husband. The reasons behind the nicknames are for unity, closeness and communal living which exist among Umunze women. The cultural implication is to uphold the culture of Umunze people as well as to bring the women together as one being that they come from different backgrounds. Some names are derogatory while others extol. Symbols are used to make the bearers of the names to think deeply and act accordingly or effect a change where possible.