MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF NSUKKA PERSONAL NAMES

Abstract

In many African societies, personal names carry profound meanings that go beyond mere identification, reflecting cultural values, social structures, and ancestral heritage. However, in the Nsukka community of Enugu State, there has been limited systematic study on how names are morphologically constructed and the cultural significance they embody. This study addresses the question: How are Nsukka personal names morphologically structured, and what meanings do they convey about the community’s values and worldview? Using a descriptive research design, data were collected from fifty individuals through interviews with community elders, parents, and archival records of traditional Nsukka names. The study employed qualitative morphological analysis, segmenting names into their constituent morphemes and examining patterns of combination and semantic content. The findings revealed that most Nsukka names are compound formations, often combining morphemes that reflect topography, social hierarchy, moral values, and communal identity. Frequent morphemes such as Ugwu (hill/pride), Ani (land), and Eze (king) were identified, demonstrating a strong link between linguistic structure and cultural meaning.The study further shows that names function as cultural texts, encoding individual identity and collective values in ways that preserve heritage and social memory. It concludes that Nsukka personal names are carefully constructed linguistic artefacts, reflecting the community’s worldview, reverence for the land, and social organisation. The study recommends systematic documentation of traditional names, integration of local naming practices into educational curricula, and further research to safeguard this important aspect of cultural heritage.