Sociolinguistic Import of Name-Clipping Among Omambala Cultural Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the perceived but obvious manifestation of name- clipping among Omambala cultural zone of Anambra State, Nigeria.  This situation has given rise to distortion of names and most often, to either mis- interpretation or complete loss of the original and full meanings of the names. This situation of misinterpretation is more prevalent among the younger generation of the indigenes of this speech community. This work is framed with the theory of sociolinguistics. As sociolinguistic tenets naturally impact on the growth/death of a people’s language(s), this study, through interview, intends to establish relationships between the prevalent loss and/or misinterpretation of the clipped names and language growth and/or death in the cultural zone in question. In addition to finding out whether age and social class are variables to this prevalent practice, this investigation, which adopts descriptive and survey approaches, equally plans to find out if the practice significantly impacts on nation building.