Sociolinguistic analysis of surname as marker of identity among Ilorin Indigenes in Nigeria

Abstract

Every being has name as identity, and surname can mark identity among people within a community. Thus, this study seeks to examine surname as markers of identity among the Ilorin people through a sociolinguistic approach. The study, based communication accommodation theory, surveyed 150 indigenous Ilorin surnames from respondents, library, archive and scheduled interview with ten elders as principal informants. Data collected were analysed and the surnames subjected to socio-linguistic analysis. The study revealed that Ilorin surnames can be Yorùbá-based, Hausa/ Fulani, foreign and clerical names with gods/goddesses substituted with professional names. Surnames indicating ‘ownership’ have ‘Oní’ as their root prefix and underwent; deletion, assimilation and denasalization when the suffix starts with a vowel and remain untransformed when a consonant starts the suffix. Ilorin surnames are unique to Ìlọrin indigenes, hence signified ethnic identity but with similar syntax, semantics and structure as other Yorùbá names.

Keywords

• surnames
• ilorin
• marker
• identity
• sociolinguistic