Reference no: EM133246065 , Length: 500

Essay Assignment - Names and Culture (Ashantis in Ghana)

Names reflect culture at many levels--from larger name trends at the societal level to a family's choice at the micro level. An acquaintance once told me he'd found a name for his newborn son by looking through the obituaries, explaining, "well, that guy didn't need the name anymore." Though it seemed somewhat irreverent and may be an uncommon way to name a child, it nonetheless reflects American norms of individualism and the lack of widely shared practices of baby naming across US society at large as compared to some other countries.

For this essay, your assignment is to reflect on and describe naming norms within your own culture and family (Ashantis in Ghana). You might address (as relevant to your situation) how your given and family names came to be; whether names tend to indicate gender; membership (such as in a particular family, clan, or other group); birth order or relationship to other individuals in the family; where you were born or the ancestral home of the family; a special day, season, or event near your birth; or some other meaning or reference. Can a person's name change during their life? (if so, what event or circumstances would prompt a name change?).