The Semantic and Pragmatic Analysis of Amharic Anthroponomy

Abstract Fieldwork was conducted within the East Gojjam Zone of Ethiopia's Amhara region, focusing specifically on the Gocha siso enese and Debre Markos districts. A small group of 10 primary informants (evenly split between 5 men and 5 women) was selected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The researcher used introspection, and semi-structured interview questionnaires as data collecting tools. The gathered material was evaluated using J.L. Austin's (1962) Speech Act Theory to capture how naming functions as a form of social action. The sampled Amhara names fell into several distinct thematic groups. These included names that communicate conflict, gossip, regret, respect, solidarity, exceptional circumstances, and animosity. The exact semantic and pragmatic intentions behind a name are highly dependent on context and are often fully understood only by the person who assigned the name. Actively naming a child serves as a pragmatic speech act capable of delivering warnings, preserving reminders, offering cautions, or extending apologies. The chosen names frequently mirror the personal or relationship struggles of the parents prior to the child's birth. In many instances, parents select a specific name in the hope that the new baby will alleviate their marital friction and help restore family harmony.