Politeness Phenomenon in Abiku Names Among the Yoruba Africans: A Pragmatic Study

Abstract

This study attempts a pragmatic study of Abiku names from the face act theory’s perspective.The thrust of the work is to establish that certain politeness acts are either violated or obeyed in the Yoruba naming systems of Abiku children; thereby proving the economy of words in names and that more is communicated than said within the little strands of letters. Ten Abiku names are selected and analyzed using the pragmatic principle of face act. The study indicates that names, (in particular, Abiku names) in the traditional African Yoruba setting,  transcend ordinary labeling to historicize, socialize, spiritualize and influence people psychologically.

Key words: Abiku; Yoruba; Face acts; Saworo; Life cycle; Anthroponym; Death