(University of the Free State, 2003) Akach, Philemon; Lubbe, Johan
English: This study utilises data from two Deaf communities to investigate the principles
operant in the giving of personal names and to demonstrate similarities and differences
as compared with those operant in spoken-language communities. Descriptive
principles which operate are the physical features of the person to be named, his or
her behaviour and mannerisms, associations evoked by him or her, translation of the
meaning of the written name, and naming after someone else. In addition to the descriptive
principles, the incorporation of the handshape of alphabetical signs is a second
important principle in the giving of personal names.