Isa Yusuf Chamo
Place names are labels attached to one’s surroundings. The concept of identity helps to describe the way individuals and groups define themselves and are defined by others on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, language and culture (Deng 1995:1). Identity distinguishes one group from another and is also an instrument that people use to present themselves to other people that are different from them. It also involves the question of “We and They”. This paper investigates the use of place names as part of person’s name in Hausa. The aim is to find out why some Hausa people used place names as part of their names. An ethnography research method is used to collect data and social identity theory to analyze the data. The result of the analysis shows that some Hausa people use place names in their name to construct their identity which reveals the place they belong. And it shows their deep affection for the place. It also reveals that place names can served as an identity markers both from an individual and social point of view.
Keywords: Language, Identity, Names, Hausa
PhD,Department of Linguistics, Bayero University, Kano-Nigeria