Towards an Onomastics of South Asia

Bibliographic Data

ID3964466
AuthorsM B Emeneau (corresponding author)
Year1978
Volume98
Issue2
Pages113
Publication date1978-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of the American Oriental Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-0279 • E-ISSN: 2169-2289
PublisherJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/600948
OpenAlexW2332107549
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited8

1 In my earlier writings on the areal linguistics of South Asia I have referred to the 'Indian' linguistic area, with the proviso, usually explicitly stated, that 'India' here means 'the Indian subcontinent'. This is always awkward, and I now welcome the use of 'South Asia', instead of 'India', by Southworth and Apte, 1974 (p. 1). They detail the political subdivisions included (1. 19, n. 1). My own investigations have seldom included the Tibeto-Burman languages of Tibet and Burma, Sikkim, Bhutan, and Nepal, but they certainly must not be neglected when they are relevant and available. Srilanka should just as certainly always be included, when possible. It should be remarked, however, that though 'South Asia' is good for the area, 'pan-South Asian' is an awkward substitute for 'pan-Indic'. During the collection of data and preparation of this paper I have learned much by discussing the subject with numerous of my friends and calling on their knowledge. I must name and thank especially Professors Bh. Krishnamurti, Padmanabh S. Jaini, George L. Hart III and Mrs. Kaushalya Hart, for very much data and discussion. Others who have contributed much are: Professors J. F. Staal, B. A. Van Nooten, Robert P. Goldman, Bruce R. Pray, Ariel A. Bloch, Martin Schwartz, John J. Ohala, V. W. Paranjpe, Eugene F. Irschick, T. Burrow, V. Raghavan, the late S. Bhattacharya, Roshni Rustomji, Dr. K. Kushalappa Gowda, Dr. V. Narayana Rao, Sri Vinayaka P. Bhatta, Tiru K. Paramasivam, Mrs. Usha R. Jain, Mrs. J. F. Staal, and Mrs. Manjari Ohala. If I have consulted others and forgotten to mention them, they will, I hope, pardon me. In quoting names I have not always attempted an accuracy in transcription, which I could not, in any event, always have achieved. Purism in this matter must await a complete study, which I shall never attempt. Nor have I given more than small samples of evidence, usually because I had no more available, but occasionally, when I had more, because the purpose of the paper is only to call attention to matters that would repay research. is wide-ranging on villagers' names of all religions. Hilka (1910) dealt with the names in the older Sanskrit literature and inscriptions. Van Velze (1938) did likewise in a doctoral dissertation. Studies on more concentrated phases of the subject are not unknown: Sjoberg (1968) has analysed modern Telugu names, a complementation of K. Mahadeva Sastri's analysis (1961) of Old Telugu names; Junghare (1975) analysed Marathi names. I have dealt in detail with Toda names in a monograph (1974), and with Kodagu names in an article (1976). Sorensen's index of Mahabharata names (1904-25) is well-known and much used. I have not given a complete bibliography; Hilka may be consulted for titles up to 1910 (pp. 15360). Nor should the work of librarians be neglected, in their endeavors to provide guide-lines for the cataloguing of books by Indian authors; Indic Names (1961), the latest and most useful of such works, provides some analysis of the kind that is needed. But it is obvious that there is no all-inclusive, exhaustive work on South Asian onomastics, even on that part of it relating to Hindus. I do not attempt anything so ambitious. There would be needed a group of scholars and probably, considering the great size of the population involved, a computer program. However, I would sketch a program and present a few notes on some neglected phases of the subject. 2. The paper is concerned with several traits of the naming system, beginning with its basis in names of the theophoric type and names derived from words denoting desirable or attractive things or qualities; the first type is of most importance especially among men's names and the second especially among women's names, but in spite of the greater emphasis on the first type in this paper examples of both types have been included without remark. Apotropaic names based on words for undesirable or unattractive things or qualities are also treated sketchily. One prominent trait found in the system is the shortening of names, and, closely allied to this, the formation of hypocoristics, which the paper treats in some detail, especially as concerns those formed with

Archaeology · Geography · Onomastics · Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research · South Asian Studies and Conflicts · Swearing, Euphemism, Multilingualism

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