Journal of Studies in Language, Culture and Society (JSLCS)
Volume 9, Numéro 2, Pages 247-264
2026-06-30
Ethnolinguistic Study Of Gender Identity Construction And Communication In Ewe Personal Names
Authors : Kpodo Pascal . Mallet Cynthia . Agbemehia Gabriel . Dekorn Hope .
Abstract
Personal names are culturally significant linguistic resources that encode social meanings, values, and identity categories within societies. Across cultures, they exhibit both gender-specific and gender-neutral characteristics. Nonetheless, the expression of gender in naming practices varies widely across these cultures. Although the field of onomastics has received substantial scholarly attention, the ways in which gender is expressed through personal naming practices remain relatively underexplored across languages. To address this gap, this study examines the ethnolinguistic interpretations embedded in gender-specific names among the Ewe people. Its objectives are to identify and discuss gender markers in the Ewe language and to analyse how gender is ethnolinguistically manifested in the Ewe naming system. Adopting a qualitative approach, this study draws on a sample of Ewe personal names sourced from Ameevor P.K.M.’s book Ŋkɔwò ɖe? ‘What is your name?’, school records from two basic schools in Klikor township, and social media platforms, particularly Facebook and WhatsApp. Four elderly native speakers aged 70–75 years were purposively selected from Klikor to validate the gender-related classifications of the collected names. Finally, the researchers’ native language intuition played a significant role in gathering and processing the data. Through a systematic linguistic analysis, the study uncovers a rich construction and communication of gendered identity through Ewe personal names. The Ewe use gender markers such as /-si/, /-ƒui/, /-nɔvi/, /-wɔ/, and /-yo/ to derive female names from male names, following a specific order. Female names are typically derived from male names, reflecting the patriarchal nature of Ewe society, in which male identity predominates. Nevertheless, the study also identifies independent female names, indicating sociocultural contexts that promote women’s individuality. It further highlights the role of social cognition and shared cultural knowledge in interpreting gendered information in names. Additionally, language contact, cultural practices, and religious beliefs prove crucial in shaping gender expression in Ewe naming. Through ethnolinguistic analysis, this article illuminates the interplay between language and culture in the formation of gendered identities.
Keywords
Anthroponym ; ethnolinguistics; gender identity; naming practices; onomastics
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