Linguistic Analysis on the Names of Nias Ancestors

Konferensi Linguistik Tahunan Atma Jaya 14

LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS ON THE NAMES OF NIAS ANCESTORS Ingatan Gulö STBA Teknokrat [email protected] ABSTRACT This is a cultural-linguistic analysis on the names of Nias ancestors. Anthroponomastics on Nias ancient proper names contains some worthy cultural accounts about the tribe. Looking at most of Nias names nowadays triggers a question as to why are the names so ‘funny’ or amusing to other people with Indonesian linguistic background. Such a question was the reason that motivated the present researcher to conduct a research on this notion. The purpose was to obtain an insight on the thoughts as well as cultural and philosophical values held by Nias people in the past and encompassed in how they named their descendants. In order to get the data, senior villagers were interviewed by the researcher. The data gathered were classified according to the meanings and messages contained in those meanings. After analysing the data, it was revealed that it is not only the present-day Nias people who have such linguistically amusing names but also the generations who lived before them. The research shows that the names vary in meanings and aspects of life. What makes it interesting is that not only the names are semantically amusing but they also tell important cultural values held by those ancestors living in the past. Written in Li Niha or Nias language, there were names in imperative forms, names related to dowry, names expressing hope, and names describing what the parents felt about daily lives. Some of the people were even named after animals' names and their body parts. Among other negative meanings, those ancestors were also named after waste materials and using linguistic items expressing indignity. Keyword: anthroponomastics, culture, Li Niha, Nias, proper name INTRODUCTION To Indonesian speakers, the name of the present researcher sounds ‘funny’ or amusing. Taking a look at the list of his Facebook friends would provide more of such amusing examples in Indonesian. A step back to the previous generation, such characteristics also appear but most of the names are in Nias language or Li Niha. Those names carry positive meanings and purposes. These facts led the present researcher to questions related to the names of the people back to the third generation and those coming before them. In addition to digging out what the names looked like linguistically, exploring cultural and philosophical values they held have also underlined the objectives of conducting this research. This study focused on a branch of onomastics, that is anthroponomastics, which deals with names of people. Studies on onomastics or proper names have developed quite far recently; starting from the meanings they carry, how they relate to their referents, their morphological and syntactic aspects, to the issues of computerizing them for modern usages in information technology (Obeng, 1998; Monroy, 1999; Jamil, 2010; Inokuma, 2011; Ewie, 2014; Islam and Das, 2014). Previous studies on anthroponomastics also vary on purposes and findings. This study thus contributes the notion of Nias ancestors’ proper names to those available pieces of work on onomastics. THEORY AND METHOD Apart from the long debate between Fregean and Kripkean views on onomastics (Monroy, 1999; Maier, 2007), this research places its ground mostly on the direct reference theory, without any intention to completely deny the possibility of names carrying certain characteristcs that describe them. Recanati’s effort to reconcile the two theories (Monroy, 1999) is thus taken into account so strongly but with emphasis, for this preliminary study, on one of his two-mode representation namely the linguistic mode. The data were collected by interviewing five senior villagers from the middle part of Nias island in 2014. Thus, the result does not represent those from northern and southern parts of the island. Those chosen were considered knowledgeable about history and local wisdom by the other villagers. These respondents were separately asked names of Nias ancestors that they had ever met or heard from their parents. The researcher also asked other questions related to meanings of and reasons for giving those names. While the interview was in progress, the researcher took notes on important information obtained from the respondents. From one hundred nineteen data collected, one hundred were processed. The rest were miscellaneous. The chosen data were sorted and examined one by one in order to be able to clasify them into groups. The 111

Konferensi Linguistik Tahunan Atma Jaya 14 classification was not made according to certain theory or existing methods of grouping names but according to semantic characteristics they had. The clusters and data were then analysed in reference to the theory used to draw conclusion. DATA AND DISCUSSION The data are presented based on the highest level of occurence to the least ones. Most of those provided in this article are only representations of the data processed. They were numbered continuously in order a datum can be referred by a precise number. Names in Imperative Forms Twenty five percent of the proper names analyzed are in imperative forms. Examples are given below. Seen from the translations, these names are giving orders to their bearers. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Nias Name Atulö’ö Fagohi Lulugö Sofumbörö Tahali Tohusökhi

Literal Meaning Adjust Run Push Ask reason Hold words Continue good

Idiomatic Translation Make it right Ask what is the starting point/reason Don’t say a word Continue to be good

These names employ either verbs alone (number 1 through 3) or with nouns (number 4 through 6) functioning as the objects of the verbs. When they are in the latter form, however, the two words are combined as one. Philosophically, such names express the ‘instruction’ of the parents to be followed by the children. Names Related to Dowry The commanding tone discussed above is also found in data 11 and 12 in the following group. However, they were put under this point as the word böŵö ‘dowry’ at the end of each name drew the attention of the present researcher to separate them. There are 20 names found with this characteristics. That makes it 20% of the whole data analyzed. No. 7 8 9 10 11 12

Nias Name Fukamböŵö Hinomböŵö Naeremböŵö Rucumböŵö Sekhemböŵö Tehemböŵö

Literal Meaning Dowry net Season of dowry Slope of dowry Dowry peak Ask dowry Accept dowry

Idiomatic Translation Trap of dowry Era of dowry The highest level of dowry Make bargain on dowry Agree on the dowry

The presence of the word böŵö in these names really tells something about the culture in Nias. Dowry given by the bridegroom’s family to the bride’s family is a very striking feature of Nias culture. It is not impossible for the bride’s family to ask fifty million rupiahs as böŵö in order to agree on conducting the wedding and thus be families. This amount of money can be made less or more. As made explicit by datum 11, the dowry can be bargained. This is usually done by the spokesman of the groom’s family. To many Nias people, especially those who are still philosophically bound to this cultural system, getting married is a big burden. This can be seen from data number 7 and 9 that consider böŵö as a trap and slope. Hope or Prayer of the Parents Similarly to names in imperative forms, the names in this group describe the hope of the parents. These proper names, however, are not wrapped in ‘commands’ but in statements. No. 13 14 15 15 17 18

Nias Name Fanohu Roudödö Sarali Sarotödö Sodania Tali’aculö

Literal Meaning Continuity Motivation of the heart One word Whose heart is firm There will be Should be right

Idiomatic Translation The one that continues The one that encourages To have agreement on something The one with faith -

Konferensi Linguistik Tahunan Atma Jaya 14 Fifteen names show this characteristic. That represents 15% of the data analyzed. As they bear the prayers of the parents, they are all in positive tones. Nowadays, it is still possible to find Nias names like these both in Li Niha and in Bahasa. Circumstancial Names Previous research findings on anthroponomastics indicate the fact that names in other countries or certain tribes were also made based on what happened during pregnancy or birth process (Olenyo, 2011; Okyere, 2015). No. 19 20 21 22 23 24

Nias Name Huŵalö’ö Kefelö’ö Löbörö Marase Rimilö’ö Taligölö

Literal Meaning No grey hair No money No reason Tired No money Depend on power/energy

Idiomatic Translation Without any grey hair Having no money (Also: no financial capital) Exhausted (Rimi refers to money or a coin) Depend on ability

Twelve percent of the data processed when conducting this research portrays this occurence of giving names based on circumstance. Data 20 and 23, for example, refer to bad economical condition of the parents when the children were born. Number 22 explains how the parents lived their daily lives. This indicates defenselessness of the parents and generally shows how they felt about the situation they were in at that time. Animal’s Names The names presented in this group and the rest are quite shocking as people might think it is not appropriate to have names like these. The names are in negative senses but vary in levels. No. 25 26 27 28 29 30

Nias Name Kalaosi Kanago Kanasu Ka’ulö Talaho Teatea

Literal Meaning Mouse deer Antelope Dog Snake Frog Cockroach

Idiomatic Translation The one named mouse deer The one named antelope The one named dog The one named snake -

Although the linguistic items in 25 and 26 refer to animals, for instance, they seem neutral when compared to the others like in 29 and 30. According to the respondents interviewed, these names came about because of three possible reasons. First, it could be because the parents loved or admired animals like deers and antelopes. Second, it could be because they hated certain animals like in the case of snake or cockroach. Third, it could be because they saw or met these animals during pregnancy. The second and the third possibilities really have something to do with circumstancial names but they were put in a different group as the names with this characteristic showed up quite often. Animal’s Body Parts Still in relation to the previous point, Nias ancestors were also named after animal’s body parts. There are 7 proper names found. This represents 7% of the whole data. No. 31 32 33 34 35 36

Nias Name Ahemanu Atemanu I’ode’u I’omao Kahekahe Sa’azökha

Literal Meaning Chicken’s foot Chicken’s liver Rat’s tail Cat’s tail Foot Wild boar’s nail

Idiomatic Translation Unimportant parts of the foot The nail of a wild boar

Seen from the translations, the names cover different body parts of the animals like the outer ones (foot or tail), the inside body part, useful part like the nail, and unimportant ones. Combined with the previous group, 15% of the proper names is related to animals. Expression of Indignity There are only five names grouped into this characteristic, four of which are presented below. The first three are not as offensive as the last one. 113

Konferensi Linguistik Tahunan Atma Jaya 14 No. 37 38 39 40

Nias Name Löbadödö Lösangila Silöguna Toudai

Literal Meaning Not in the heart No one knows With no function Under shit

Idiomatic Translation No one cares The one who is worthless Beneath feces

No information was obtained as to why such a name in 40 was given. One thing assured by the informasion source is that these were real names, not nick names nor epithets. Reflection of Feelings Names put under this point are those representing the feelings of the name givers. Seen from the last part of the names, this naming practice has something to do with the ‘heart’ of the parent or the one who gave the name. No. 41 42 43 44

Nias Name Lazidödö Söndrudödö Susadödö Uzudödö

Literal Meaning Heart’s squeezer Heart’s sorrow Heart is bothersome Heart’s enemy

Idiomatic Translation One that makes life bitter One that puts (others) in misery Being woeful Enemy of the heart

The ones presented are the only data found related to this reflection of feelings. One might find it possible to put them in one of the other groups but the meanings and philosophical values they bear will stay the same. Waste Materials This last group of the proper names also carry negative senses as they refer to things that are thrown away because they are no longer needed. These four are all the data found with similar characteristics. No. 45 46 47 48

Nias Name Lölönafo Sasao Taide’u Uliŵino

Literal Meaning Waste of chewed betel Rubbish Rat’s feces The peel of areca nut

Idiomatic Translation -

Afo or betel is an important part of Nias culture. Even to the present days the adults, especially, chew betels and mineral lime wrapped in betel leaves with other ingredients such as areca nut and gambier as a stimulant masticatory. After being chewed, what left is the waste called lölönafo in the language. Although all those names refer to unwanted things, those in 46 and 47 are the worst in nature. CONCLUSION Apart from the fact that circumstancial names and some other kinds of names explained above are commonly found in other languages, there are unusual practices related to name giving among Nias ancestors. Some of them, such as those proper names with extremely negative senses, should be examined in more details in order to have comprehensive understanding on the reasons for giving or having such names. The data found the most, however, really portrays Nias cultural and philosophical values held by those ancestors. REFERENCES Ewie, Charles Owu. 2014. A morphosyntactic analysis of some Fante habitation names. The International Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, 2(5), 232-243. Gulö, Ingatan. 2014. Unique characteristics of Nias language. International Journal of English and Education, 3(3), 26-32. Inokuma, Sakumi. 2011. Syntax of personal pronouns and proper names, and the notion of direct reference. Linguistic Research, 27, 63-71. Islam, Syeful and Jugal Krishna Das. 2014. Design analysis rules to identify proper noun from Bengali sentence for universal networking language. I.J. Modern Education and Computer Science, 8, 1-9. Jamil, Sikander. 2010. Frege: the theory of meaning concerning proper names. Kritike, 4(1), 150-173. Lase, Apolonius. 2011. Kamus Li Niha: Nias – Indonesia. Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kompas.

Konferensi Linguistik Tahunan Atma Jaya 14 Maier, Emar. 2007. Proper names as rigid presuppositions. Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung 11, 418-432. Monroy, Rivas Uxía. 1999. Proper names: one century of discussion. Logica Trianguli, 3, 119-138. Obeng, Samuel Gyasi. 1998. Akan death-prevention names: a pragmatic and structural analysis. The American Name Society, 46(3), 163-187. Okyere, Sarah Marjie. 2015. A linguistic survey of types of names among the Bubukusu of Kenya. Global Journal of Human-Social Science, 15(3)1, 34-42. Olenyo and Malande Moses James. 2011. What is in a name? An analysis of the semantics of Lulogooli personal names. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 1(20), 211-218. Note: The names are written in this article according to the newest Nias dictionary and the elaboration on the writing issue of Nias (Lase, 2011; Gulö, 2014). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------KOLITA 14 Konferensi Linguistik Tahunan Atma Jaya Keempat Belas Koordinator: Yanti, Ph. D. ISBN: 978-602-8474-36-8 Pusat Kajian Bahasa dan Budaya Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya Jakarta 2016 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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