A MORPHOSYNTACTIC AND SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF PLACENAMES IN KWAHU IN THE EASTERN REGION OF GHANA

Authors

  • Philip Boateng Ansah Department of Technical Communication, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana
  • Patricia Beatrice Mireku-Gyimah Department of Technical Communication, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejals.v3i2.241

Keywords:

motivation, morphology, anthroponym, toponym, onomastics

Abstract

African names, as signs of language, can be divided into two morpho-syntactic categories: they are either nominal, which means they constitute single words, or syntagmatic, implying they are made up of sentences or parts thereof. Therefore, understanding place names in general hugely depends on a critical look at the internal structure of the word(s) or placename(s). This research uses complete semi-structured interviews and documents to critically investigate 20 randomly selected placenames from Kwahu South and Kwahu East districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It analyses the syntax, morphology and meaning of these placenames. It applies the Frame Semantic (Fillmore, 1982) concept to ascertain whether the meaning-making elements in the individual names reflect the views or purposes of their ‘namers’ or otherwise, as (oral) histories have them. The selected placenames are then grouped using Tent and Blair (2011) model of Motivations for Naming. The semantic and morphological analysis reveal that some Kwahu habitation names could be realized from non-morphemic parts of words, single stems/roots, phrases, inflections (affixations), etc. Again, vowel elision, coinage, and backformation are used by the name givers, with the topography, environment and other factors being key in the naming process. The paper concludes that Kwahu placenames are useful linguistic sources. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on Kwahu placenames in particular, and Ghanaian toponymy in general. It is recommended that ‘Kwahu’, which also stands as an Akan dialect type, spoken by this speech community, be explored by future researchers.

Author Biographies

  • Philip Boateng Ansah, Department of Technical Communication, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana
    Philip Boateng Ansah is a Lecturer at the Technical Communication Department of University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa. He holds M. Phil and B.Ed Degrees in English Language from University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ghana. His research interests are in English Language studies, Sociolinguistics, Discourse Analysis, Semantics and African Literature.
  • Patricia Beatrice Mireku-Gyimah, Department of Technical Communication, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana
    Patricia Beatrice Mireku-Gyimah is an Associate Professor of English at University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in the Department of Technical Communication. She holds PhD (English) from KNUST; MPhil (Educational Administration), and BA (Hons) (English/French) concurrently obtained with Dip Ed from University of Cape Coast; and PgD (Aelcf, Lcf) from Université de Bordeaux 3. She is currently the Dean of Office of International Programmes. She is the author of two books and her research interests are in the areas of Language and Literature, including African Oral Literature.

References

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Agyekum, K, 2006. The Sociolinguistic of Akan Personal Names. Nordic Journal of African Studies , 206-235.

Alford, R. D, 1987. Naming and Identity: A cross-cultural study of personal naming practices. New Haven, Connecticut: HRAF Press.

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Fillmore, C, 1982. Frame Semantics, In Linguistics in the Morning Calm (pp. 111-138). Seoul: Hanshin: Linguistic Society of Korea (Ed.).

Fillmore, C. J, 1984. Frames and Semantics of Understanding. In Quaderni di Semantica (pp. 6(2):222-254). India: Indiana University Press.

Kimeyi, A, 1989. Kinyanwanda and Kirundi names: A semiolinguistic analysis of Bantu onomastics. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press.

Koranteng, D. A, 1997. The Story of Pepease. Accra: Sebewie Publishers.

Mill, J. S, 1964. A system of logic, ratiocinative and inductive, being a connected view of the principles of evidence and the methods of scientific investigations. London: New York: Harper & Brothers.

Nkansah-Kyeremateng, K, 1976. One Hundred Years of the Presbyterian Church in Kwahu (1876-1976). Accra: Victory Printing Works.

Nkansa-Kyeremateng, K, 1999. Akan Heritage. Accra : Sebewie Publishers.

Pere-Kewezima, E, 2004. Approach to Lexico-semantics and system onomastics in Kabire. Lome: University of Togo.

Petruck, M. R, 2011. Frame Semantics. Berkeley: University of California.

Radding L., W. J, 2010. What's in a name? Linguistics, geography and toponyms. In: The geographical review, volume 3 (pp. 394-412). New York: American Geographical Society.

Radford, A. 2004. English Syntax: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Agyekum, K, 2006. The Sociolinguistic of Akan Personal Names. Nordic Journal of African Studies, 206-235.

Alford, R. D, 1987. Naming and Identity: A cross-cultural study of personal naming practices. New Haven, Connecticut: HRAF Press.

Algeo, J, 1984. Is a Theory of Names Possible? NAMES: A Journal of Onomastics, 33, 136-144.

Anderson, S. R, 1992. A-Morphous morphology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Batoma, A, 2006. African Toponyms and Ethnonyms: An Annotated Bibliography. Electronic Journal of African Bibliography , Vol 10.

Batoma, A, 2009. Onomastics and Indirect Communication Among The Kabre of Northern Togo. Nordic Journal of African Studies, 18(3): 215-234.

Fillmore, C, 1982. Frame Semantics, In Linguistics in the Morning Calm (pp. 111-138). Seoul: Hanshin: Linguistic Society of Korea (Ed.).

Fillmore, C. J, 1968 . The case for case. In Universals in Linguistic Theory. New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston.

Fillmore, C. J, 1984. Frames and Semantics of Understanding. In Quaderni di Semantica (pp. 6(2):222-254). India: Indiana University Press.

Kimeyi, A, 1989. Kinyanwanda and Kirundi names: A semiolinguistic analysis of Bantu onomastics. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press.

Klugah, M. A, 2013. Recounting history through linguistics: A toponymic analysis of Asogli migration narratives. African Journal of History and Culture , 151-159.

Koranteng, D. A, 1997. The Story of Pepease. Accra: Sebewie Publishers.

Masindi, N. F., and Muhaseni, M. N, 2012. An Exploration into the Morphological Structure of the Names of Domestic Animals. International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences , 1-8.

Nkansah-Kyeremateng, K, 1976. One Hundred Years of the Presbyterian Church in Kwahu (1876-1976). Accra: Victory Printing Works.

Nkansa-Kyeremateng, K, 1999. Akan Heritage. Accra: Sebewie Publishers.

Owu-Ewie, C. 2014. A Morphosyntactic Analysis of Some Fanti Habitation Names (econyms). The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies, 232-243.

Pere-Kewezima, E, 2004. Approach to Lexico-semantics and system onomastics in Kabire. Lome: University of Togo.

Radding L., W. J, 2010. What's in a name? Linguistics, geography and toponyms. In :The geographical review, volume 3 (pp. 394-412). New York: American Geographical Society.

Radford, A. 2004. English Syntax: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Rosenhouse, J. 2015. Personal names in Hebrew and Arabic: Modern Trends Compared to the Past. Journal of Semetic Studies, XLVII (1) , 97-114.

Tent, J., & Blair, D, 2011. Motivations for Naming: The Development of a Toponymic Typology for Australian Placenames. Names 59:67-89. Names A Journal of Onomastics , 67-89.

b. Journal articles

Algeo, J, 1984. Is a Theory of Names Possible? NAMES: A Journal of Onomastics, 33, 136-144.

Batoma, A, 2006. African Toponyms and Ethnonyms: An Annotated Bibliography. Electronic Journal of African Bibliography , Vol 10.

Batoma, A, 2009. Onomastics and Indirect Communication Among the Kabre of Northern Togo. Nordic Journal of African Studies, 18(3): 215-234.

Klugah, M. A, 2013. Recounting history through linguistics: A toponymic analysis of Asogli migration narratives. African Journal of History and Culture , 151-159.

Masindi, N. F., and Muhaseni, M. N, 2012. An Exploration into the Morphological Structure of the Names of Domestic Animals. International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 1-8.

Owu-Ewie, C. 2014. A Morphosyntactic Analysis of Some Fanti Habitation Names (econyms). The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies, 232-243.

Rosenhouse, J. 2015. Personal names in Hebrew and Arabic: Modern Trends Compared to the Past. Journal of Semetic Studies, XLVII (1) , 97-114.

Tent, J., & Blair, D, 2011. Motivations for Naming: The Development of a Toponymic Typology for Australian Placenames. Names 59:67-89. Names A Journal of Onomastics, 67-89.

c. Online articles

Bartle, P, 2007. Studies Among the Akan People of West Africa; community, society, history culture with special focus on the Kwawu. Retrieved June 4, 2015, from CEC Community Empowerment Collective: http://cec.vcn.bc.ca/rdi/index.htm

Ghana Statistical Service. 2010, Population & Housing census, National Analytical Report, www.statsghana.gov.gh/cen_surv.html Accessed on June 9, 2015

d. Unpublished thesis

Petruck, M. R, 1986. Body Part Terminology in Hebrew: A Study in Lexical Semantics. Berkeley: Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of California.

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Published

2021-03-15

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2021)

Section

Articles

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