The Motivation of Naming in North Toraja Society

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explain the motivation or basic of naming in North Toraja society. This research used descriptive qualitative method by using semantic analysis. Data in this research is proper names that collected from informants or respondents by using interview techniques and note techniques. The results showed that the motivations of naming in North Toraja society are (1) the time of birth; (2) the order of birth; (3) the religious holidays, (4) the name in holy bible; (5) names of famous people or people who idolized; (6) the place of birth; (7) a particular/spesific event; (8) the acronym form; and (9) the similarities between the initial letters of proper name in family.